Thank you for checking out our selection of bodies. Skillswitch RC started making bodies in 2019 and selling in the latter of 2020 under Skillswitch Designs.. With experience starting in 1987, spanning through every aspect of the hobby. 39 years later, the creativity and ambition only seems to increase.
2019 was a year of learning the 3d tech and the CAD software to pair the two together. There was much to learn taking ideas and turning them into a physical object. Starting out with an FDM printer, the learning curve quickly began to flatten. The one FDM printer turned into 13, Skillswitch Designs was well on it's way with new products. This came with a new set of problems to solve...
FDM Printing ( fused deposition modeling ) takes a model, slices it into layers and prints one layer at a time. Depending on the equipment and knowledge, these printers can make a nice model but will have layer lines regardless. So to get a smooth surface, it must be sanded smooth or use filler, still much sanding is needed to get a great result.
In the early years, Skillswitch was printing, sanding, filling and finishing in primer. This way the customer would receive a body close to ready for paint. It worked fine until too many orders came in. This caused a backload of orders. Being one person and 40 bodies to do all that work to each takes time with 2 hands. The only way was to work from before sun up, to well after sun down. Also offered was a Painting Service, yes, too much for one person. Not enough to hire a person. Customers got impatient and the work took it's course of exhaustion. Something had to be done to be more efficient.
With much frustration, many thoughts of quitting, stopping, it brought a step back and assess the whole concept and streamline. Luckily, tech has continued to advance and it brought us the resin printer...
Late 2022 Skillswitch purchased it's first resin printer. This tech allows for a liquid to turn into a model using UV technology. This also brought a VERY smooth surface that almost eliminates all layer lines. With one drawback, the resin would harden very brittle. It was good to look at but not for anything other than that. Skillswitch then took on the chore of finding a "resin mix" that could work with it's products. Testing for just over a year and a half, a mix that would work was found. Skillswitch Designs became Skillswitch RC, changing Designs to RC felt like a better fit for company as far as "online search results", bringing it closer to the field we are in.
Skillswitch RC was now selling bodies in CLEAR form almost layer line free in a material that was also very easy to sand and had a bit of flex to it instead of just cracking or crumbling apart. By being clear, you can still add LED's for lights and have shine through. Starting out, we finished the body in primer. This was really for the visual. The clear body is hard to see the detail, doesn't look like much until you put a coat of paint on it, then the details shine. That has since been eliminated and every body is sent in the CLEAR form. Painting or Prime/Prep will still be offered under the SERVICE site www.smfrcgarage.com .
Giving the shorter version, you can see Skillswitch RC has evolved many times in just a few years as it grew. I'm sure there will be many more "evolving" moments. In present form, this is what you can expect from buying a Skillswitch RC body....
ALL BODIES ARE MADE TO WHEELBASE and WIDTH of the CHASSIS you are purchasing for by choices in the dropdown. If WB or Width isn't listed, we can custom make. Width is shown in the description of the item you are looking at "default width".
ALL BODIES ARE NOT MADE AS A DIRECT FIT : The longer you are in the Hobby, the more you realize "freedom" to change things. Bodies are no different, that is why they come in a "universal" form. BODY MOUNTS are what you fit to a specific chassis to mount the body.
ALL BODIES ARE WASHED BEFORE SHIPPING OUT : Bodies are washed in isopropyl alcohol. 70% isopropyl alcohol will take away any stickiness if there is some. I let the body sit for hours after being washed. This allows for the body to "cure" By soaking in the alcohol, the alcohol actually imbeds into the material, so it needs time to vaporize. When it's busy, the wash needs to be changed more, sometimes when busy, bodies get sent washed in a dirty wash. This will cause a lightly sticky body. Wiping down with 70% isopropyl alcohol and allowing time to fully dry, will remedy this.
I have used EVERY kind of paint on these bodies. The key is your prep. I mainly use 180 & 120 grit sandpaper on Body Prep. I use very high grit sandpaper during painting but not in the body prep procedure. I use a RED Scotch Brite pad to scuff before paint and wash with Dish Soap and water before every coat of paint using light coats. I seal with multiple coats of desired CLEAR. I DON'T SUGGEST MIXING PAINT BRANDS.
ALL BODIES ARE MADE IN CLEAR RESIN : I've had many people ask me to print in certain colors. IN MY OPINION, bodies have a more realistic look being painted. I think when you have a body printed in a certain color, makes it look toyish. That's not the goal here.
ALL BODIES HAVE A 7 DAY RETURN POLICY : 7 days from the time the body arrives to you, you can return the body. Please read the RETURN POLICIES.
Overall Skillswitch RC was created to offer the "un-offered". For years, for us, the body of the RC gave the entire look. We were always changing looks, making something new, different. With over 400 different designs created, Skillswitch RC will always make products that you can "make your own". Skillswitch products are ENTIRELY in mind for "Make it your way!".
