Larry Genova runs a custom airbrushing service called Kustom RC Graphics (www.kustomrcgraphics.com). You’ve probably seen his work if you have spent any amount of time racing, watching the Pro R/C’ers race, or even just browsing the net. His work includes paint schemes for JConcepts press release bodies, r/c pros such as Barry Pettit, Cody King, Paul Wynn, Jason Ruona, and Ryan Maifield.

Larry took the time to answer some questions for our newest article series “RCSoup Talk“.

RCSoup: Hey Larry, Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. We always check our your latest paint jobs on Facebook and RCTech. I have to imagine you are staying quite busy. Out of curiosity, how many bodies do you average per day?

Larry: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. Amazingly over the past 2 to 3 years I have not had a slow time (knock on wood, lol) and when big races are coming up it gets crazy here. I juggle a lot daily, emails, texts, calls, Facebook messages, then of course masking, painting and shipping. Today I painted 10 bodies for Worlds and prepped 6 more for tomorrow’s paint work. On a typical, less stressful day, I like to paint 5 to 6 in the morning and then prep 5 to 6 in the afternoon, which includes mask, draw and cut design.

RCSoup: Is Kustom RC Graphics your only job, or do you do something else as well?

Larry: For the past 3 years, it has been my full time employment.

RCSoup: That’s awesome. How did you get into airbrushing? Did you have an art background before getting into painting?

Larry: Pretty funny story. When I moved to Florida from Connecticut about 20 years back, I started racing locally and paid the local hobby shop to get a body painted. When my wife and I went to pick it up I was extremely disappointed. I said out lout I should just buy an airbrush, and she said get it now. We went back and forth a bit and she talked me into buying it. I painted 5 bodies for my stadium truck in about a week, but didn’t like any of the designs. I put them up for sale and they all sold for a profit within a weeks time. So I did a lot of painting on the side for locals, along with my full time job in the construction industry. One night, JConcepts called and asked me to paint their new release body, it was the first Losi 8T. I continued to paint their new release bodies, which gave me mega exposure, and the rest is history as they say.

RCSoup: Do you use Liquid mask for all of your paintjobs? If so, which brand do you prefer? Do you buy it in 55 gallon drums with all the painting you do? LOL.

Larry: Yes, lol. The Bob Divelys seems to be the best. I also use automotive painters tape when I am doing a super rush job or a simple paint scheme.

RCSoup: What’s it like having your work represented by so many top name drivers, manufacturers, and organizations? It has to feel pretty good right?

Larry: It is awesome to say the least. I started saving magazines that had my work in them, the JConcepts posters and advertising flyers at first because it was a bit overwhelming to see my paint jobs in print. Now I just save the Magazines when I make a cover lol. The coolest transition has to be when I started painting Maifield’s bodies, that was pretty cool!

RCSoup: Speaking of top drivers, your son Zach Genova seems to be doing well in the Pro circuit. How is it traveling to the big races with him? Do you enjoy hitting the track as much as he does?

Larry: Yes, he loves racing and I love watching him race. He travels without me sometimes, but this year I was able to attend Reedy, Motorama, Catcus, and Wicked Weekend with him. And this month we will be traveling to Chico, CA for Worlds. I love spending time with him, and we get to see different parts of the country as a benefit. The day we arrived in Arizona for Catcus, we shot up to the Grand Canyon. We have a lot of fun on our down time, but at a large event he takes his racing very serious. It is also very cool to travel across country and have fellow racers as friends, some we have met at other races and some I had just know thru emails and Facebook.

RCSoup: What is your favorite R/C event you’ve attended over the years? Why?

Larry: That is a difficult question as every one I have traveled to has been exciting and a ton of fun. I think the 2012 Catcus was my favorite because the turnout was huge and Zack pulled off a win in 4wd 13.5 and 2nd in 2wd 13.5. The mains went way down like J main or something like that so it was huge for us. But recently we went to Wicked Weekend and that was a whole new experience. It was the first time we traveled for a nitro race. Zack had difficulties in qualifying, so he started in the D main of Pro Nitro Buggy. By the end of the day he had bumped into the A Main and finished 3rd behind Barry Pettit and Cole Ogden, that had to be the most exciting day of racing we have experienced.

RCSoup: You helped us out last year by donating paint work for our two ABC Hobby USA sedans that we raffled off for Children’s Miracle Network last year. I just wanted to give a public thank you for donating your time and energy getting those cars looking sweet for the winners.

Larry: I appreciate it! I love to help out as much as possible, it is hard at times because I am a one man show, but I try!

RCSoup: For those reading that might be interested in getting paintwork done by Kustom RC Graphics, can you give me a short ballpark price range for the average customer, and how they should best contact you?

Larry: Ok, so prices are based mainly on the size of the body, and then also on the complexity but an average is as follows:

Larry: I like to say 2 to 3 weeks, but when a large race is coming up or I am away for a race, it backs up a bit.

RCSoup: One more question that we have asked interviewees in the past.. What is your favorite kind of Soup?

Larry: LOL that’s easy, RC Soup!

RCSoup: Nice, that’s our favorite too! Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us. Can you show us some of your favorite/most awe inspiring work to leave everyone drooling?

Larry: Thank you for inviting me to talk with you, I really appreciate it! Here’s a few of my favorites. You can check out MANY more on RCTech and my website.