Overview
The Traxxas Rustler Clear Body (TRX3714) is your ultimate canvas for creative customisation, offering RC enthusiasts across the UK the freedom to design and paint their own unique bodywork. Whether you're a seasoned RC car hobbyist or exploring ready to run RC options for the first time, this polycarbonate body shell transforms your Rustler into a truly personalised machine. From mild to wild, you choose the colour scheme and design, and with Traxxas ProGraphix paint system, achieving professional-quality results has never been easier. This 1/10 scale truggy and stadium truck body is perfect for bashers and racers alike who want to stand out from the crowd at the track or in the park.
This unfinished body shell represents the perfect starting point for your RC customisation project. The clear polycarbonate construction provides excellent durability and clarity, ensuring your paint design shines through brilliantly once completed. Pre-drilled mounting holes and full trimming save you time and frustration, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of personalisation. The protective overspray film applied to the body during manufacturing protects against scratches and paint overspray during your painting process, meaning you can work confidently without worrying about damaging the underlying shell.
RC Model Shop stocks genuine Traxxas bodies and complete customisation kits for the UK market. Whether you're building a competition rig or a weekend basher, this Rustler body provides the foundation for a machine that reflects your style and personality.
Key Features
- Clear Polycarbonate Construction — The body is manufactured from durable polycarbonate material that provides excellent clarity and strength, allowing your custom paint scheme to display beautifully once applied, whilst remaining tough enough to withstand the rigours of bashing and racing.
- Fully Pre-Trimmed Design — This body arrives fully trimmed and ready to paint, eliminating the need for precise hobby scissor work and saving you valuable time during the customisation process, allowing you to get straight to the creative painting stage.
- Pre-Drilled Mounting Holes — Factory pre-drilled body mounting holes ensure quick and easy installation onto your Rustler chassis without the need for specialised reamers or drill bits, reducing setup time and potential damage to the body.
- Protective Overspray Film — A removable peel coat is applied to the exterior of the body, protecting the polycarbonate from scratches, dust and paint overspray during your customisation process, ensuring a pristine finish when you're ready to complete your design.
- Window Masking Included — Die-cut adhesive tape masks are supplied in the kit specifically designed to protect window areas from paint, allowing you to maintain clear viewing areas whilst painting your custom design, following most racing regulations.
- Complete Decal Sheet — A comprehensive decal sheet with lights and window graphics is included, providing professional finishing touches to your custom paint scheme and allowing you to add detail and personalisation beyond just colour.
- Aluminium Hardware — The kit includes aluminium wing and body hardware, providing lightweight strength and durability for secure mounting of the wing and body components to your Rustler chassis.
- Included Racing Wing — An aerodynamic wing is included in the kit, designed specifically for the Rustler body and requiring only double-sided tape for secure mounting to enhance both the appearance and performance characteristics of your RC truggy.
Technical Performance
The Traxxas Rustler body represents premium polycarbonate engineering designed specifically for 1/10 scale truggy and stadium truck platforms. The unfinished, clear shell allows complete creative freedom whilst maintaining the structural integrity required for high-performance RC driving. The polycarbonate material has been selected for its exceptional durability, clarity and resistance to impact, making it suitable for competitive racing and aggressive bashing alike. The body shell arrives with factory pre-trimming, eliminating the need for careful scissor work along scribe lines, and features pre-drilled mounting holes that accommodate standard Rustler chassis fasteners without requiring a tapered reamer. The protective peel coat on the exterior shields the body from manufacturing scratches and paint overspray during customisation, and the removable design ensures a clear, glossy finish once painting is complete. The aluminium hardware included in the kit provides lightweight yet durable mounting points for the integrated racing wing, which can be secured using double-sided tape directly to the completed bodywork. All painting should be conducted on the interior surface of the body using appropriate solvent-based or water-based paints, with proper ventilation and safety precautions observed throughout the customisation process.
What's in the Box
- Clear polycarbonate Rustler body shell (unfinished, requires painting)
- Protective overspray peel coat (removable after painting)
- Pre-cut window masking tape (adhesive, die-cut)
- Complete decal sheet with lights and window graphics
- Aerodynamic racing wing
- Aluminium wing and body mounting hardware
Painting and Customisation Guide
The Traxxas Rustler body is designed to be painted on the inside surface, with the protective peel coat remaining on the exterior throughout the painting process. Before painting, thoroughly wash the body with dish soap and warm water to remove any grease, oils or fingerprints that could prevent paint adhesion. Dry completely with a soft, lint-free cloth. The supplied die-cut window masks should be applied to the interior of the body, pressed firmly to prevent paint seeping underneath. For striping effects, either standard painter's masking tape or specialised automotive pin-striping tape can be used, with complete burnishing essential for crisp, clean lines. Avoid thin, cheap masking tape when using solvent-based paints such as Pactra, as the adhesive can dissolve and stick to the inside surface.
Paint application should be performed in multiple light coats rather than single heavy applications, preventing runs and excessive buildup. Dark colours should typically be painted first, followed by lighter colours, though this can be reversed if masking lighter areas is preferred. Allow paint to dry completely between coats, and take particular care before removing masks to ensure all paint has fully cured. Light colours can be backed with silver or Pactra opaque white to ensure opacity and prevent dark undercoats showing through. Candy colours benefit from silver backing for a metallic appearance. After painting is complete, remove the protective peel coat from the exterior to reveal the clear, glossy finish. The included wing should be painted on the underside and secured using double-sided tape to the completed body. Die-cut decals can be applied once painting is finished, using window cleaner to allow repositioning before final application. If air bubbles appear, puncture the centre with a sharp pin and push air out. Creases on curved surfaces can be carefully trimmed with a hobby knife and overlapped for a professional finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I paint the Traxxas Rustler body with standard craft paints? — Yes, whilst solvent-based paints like Pactra are recommended for fast drying and professional results, customers have successfully used water-based craft paints available from hobby and craft stores. Water-based paints offer the advantage of water cleanup and come in a wide variety of colours, making them an affordable alternative for budget-conscious customisers. Traxxas ProGraphix paints are specifically formulated for polycarbonate bodies and deliver professional-quality results.
- Is this body suitable for beginners? — Absolutely. The Rustler body is an excellent starting point for RC customisation beginners. It arrives fully trimmed with pre-drilled mounting holes, eliminating complex preparation work. The included window masks and detailed painting instructions make the customisation process straightforward. Beginners should allow adequate drying time between paint coats and ensure proper ventilation when painting. The pre-assembled nature of this body makes it more forgiving than scratch-building alternatives.
- What paint should I use on this polycarbonate body? — Traxxas recommends solvent-based paints such as Pactra brand in cans for fast, convenient application and excellent results on polycarbonate. Water-based paints like Faskolor by Parma are also suitable and must be brushed or sprayed on. Water-based craft paints from hobby stores work well and offer easy cleanup. Always follow the paint manufacturer's instructions regarding shaking, mixing and thinning, and ensure you paint in well-ventilated outdoor areas only to avoid harmful paint vapours.
- Do I need to remove the peel coat before painting? — No, the protective peel coat should remain on the exterior of the body throughout the entire painting process. It protects the polycarbonate from scratches and paint overspray. Remove the peel coat only after painting is completely finished, at which point the body will be clear and glossy. This protective film is crucial for achieving a professional-quality final appearance.
- What is the difference between this clear body and Traxxas ProGraphix bodies? — The clear Rustler body (TRX3714) is unpainted and requires complete customisation by the user, offering unlimited creative freedom in design and colour selection. Traxxas ProGraphix bodies come pre-painted with graphics already applied, requiring only a final clear coat using the techniques described. If you prefer a quick setup without extensive customisation work, ProGraphix bodies offer a faster alternative to the clear body option.
- How do I apply the decals after painting? — Die-cut decals are provided in the kit for convenience. Test their position on the completed body before final application. You can spray the body with window cleaner before applying decals, which allows repositioning before they adhere. Once positioned correctly, squeegee the cleaner from underneath the decal. If air bubbles form, puncture the centre with a sharp pin and push air out. For creases on curved surfaces, use a hobby knife to cut along the crease and overlap the edges for a professional appearance.
- What type of paint should I avoid using? — Avoid thin, cheap masking tape when using solvent-based paints like Pactra, as the adhesive will dissolve and stick to the inside of the body when removed. This can damage your paint work. Instead, use quality painter's masking tape or specialised automotive pin-striping tape available from paint supply stores for sharper, cleaner edges and better adhesion during solvent paint application.
- Can I use this body on other RC models? — This body is specifically designed for the Traxxas Rustler model and features pre-drilled mounting holes, window positions and wing mounting points tailored to this chassis. Whilst the polycarbonate construction might physically fit other 1/10 scale vehicles, the window positions, mounting hole locations and aerodynamic wing mounting are optimised for Rustler application only. For other models, use bodies specifically designed for those platforms.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the Traxxas Body, Rustler (Clear, requires painting) / window, lights decal sheet / wing and aluminium hardware TRX3714 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
