Hello fellow racers
This has been an issue for me for some time now.
I was checking if there was any tutorials or hacks on
cutting bodies evenly on both sides without reducing the body in to a test piece
Thank you all in advance!!!
Cutting straight lines on bodies with no cut lines
Started by
Mad Mexican
, Nov 04 2025 12:31 PM
6 replies to this topic
#1
Mad Mexican
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Posted 04 November 2025 - 12:31 PM
Javier Zavala
In loving memory of my mother Francisca Escalante Zavala
March 24, 1927 - April 5, 2011
Vaya Con Dios
In loving memory of my mother Francisca Escalante Zavala
March 24, 1927 - April 5, 2011
Vaya Con Dios
#2
Fergy
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Backmarker
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Posted 04 November 2025 - 02:43 PM
Hey, Javier - I use a small strip of Dymo label tape as a guide - it's flexible, but gives you a hard edge to guide the blade. Also a great method for doing panel lines w/a permanent pen.
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Dave Ferguson
#3
Roy Lievanos
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Posted 04 November 2025 - 04:15 PM
I like the JK body trimming tool.
- Tim Wood likes this
2025 Western States Can Am TQ + Overall Champion
2024 Western States TMO Champion
2023 Barnburner OMB TQ (2.17 Red) 2022 Western States HB12 Champion
2021 NASRA OMB National Champion, 2021 NASRA OMB National Lap World Record
2017 USRA Div 1 Nats “F” class National Champion, 2017 Western States "Retro Hawk F class" Champion
Thank you, John and Dee Hale - Santa Ana Raceway circa 1962
#4
Dave Crevie
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Grand Champion Poster
Posted 04 November 2025 - 04:17 PM
Run a piece of 2 inch wide masking tape on one side of the body. With a sharpie, trace the lower cut line and wheel openings on that tape. Now run another piece inside the body on the same side as the other one. You should be able to see the sharpie lines through both layers of tape. If not hold the body up to a light. You should be able to copy the sharpie lines. Carefully peel the tape from the inside of the body, and re-apply it to the outside of opposite side of the body. Try to find a feature that is on both sides of the body that you can use to line up the tape. If you need a perfectly straight lower body line, use a metal scale rule to mark that.
A well known West Coast racer taught me this back in the '60s.
A well known West Coast racer taught me this back in the '60s.
- Fergy likes this
#5
Wink Hackman
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Posted 05 November 2025 - 04:50 PM
+1 for the JK trimming tool. Set the correct rear wing height at the back, and at the front set the jig to give about 1.5 - 2mm lip, then run a scalpel along the jig. Repeat for the other side and you have a nice level bodyshell.
#6
Dean L
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Rookie Keyboard Racer
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Posted 09 February 2026 - 02:50 PM
Is this the tool? How do you use this to trim a wide body Indy car shell?
https://shop.jkracew...1304112146.html
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Dean Leavitt
#7
glueside
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Posted 10 February 2026 - 07:07 AM
Used it before.
I have taken an extra body, gotten it exactly where I want it, then put on top of the new body and drawn the markings and cut it.
Jeff Strause
Owner, Strause's Performance Racing (SPR)
USSCA 2016 4" NASCAR Champion & 4 1/2" NASCAR Champion & Retro Can-Am Champion
USSCA 2017 All Around Champion
USSCA 2019 All Around Champion
