boston1832 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 (edited) I'm coming back into the hobby after a very long time and am currently working on a Tamiya 1/35 Citroen Traction Avant which I (possibly mistakenly) thought was a gentle intro. However one of the very early steps is painting of the wheels which is causing me some nervous head scratching. I've read about a few options for masking such as circle templates and punched masks - does anyone have any tips they can recommend? The hubs are heavily dished which I assume would make masking with tape difficult. I've read the pinned post in this section of the forum but that technique doesn't really help as it's the recessed hub that I"m finding hard to mask - the post shows a hub with a raised rim which gives a (relatively) easier target to aim at. Thanks in advance! Edited January 30 by boston1832
psdavidson Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Are you using an airbrush or hairy stick? For airbrushing, this is my tool of choice https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helix-Circle-Stencil-Template-Translucent/dp/B00290KWWA Place the correct size gap over the hub, with the close-by circles masked over, then spray
boston1832 Posted January 30 Author Posted January 30 29 minutes ago, psdavidson said: Are you using an airbrush or hairy stick? For airbrushing, this is my tool of choice https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helix-Circle-Stencil-Template-Translucent/dp/B00290KWWA Place the correct size gap over the hub, with the close-by circles masked over, then spray Thanks, I’m using an airbrush although I’m happy to try anything! I’d looked at these templates but was put off by a video which pointed out that they’re often fractionally off from the dimension you need. Same video pointed towards custom masking templates for various AFV Road wheels but I don’t such a thing exists for this kit (and the shape of the wheel means it would be difficult to get the technique to work anyway).
TheKinksFan Posted January 30 Posted January 30 You could buy a cheap circle compass cutter and cut the circle masks from tape. There are much better circle cutter (DSPIAE for instance) but they are much more expensive.
TheKinksFan Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Or you could first paint the tyre rubber black, the apply liquid mask to it, and then spray the hub. The liquid mask should then be some brand that is easy to spread and self leveling, like Mr Masking Sol R.
Pin Posted January 30 Posted January 30 I use this compass cutter to create wheel masks. Two mm - no problem https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D44YZTQP/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1
Max Headroom Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Welcome back to the hobby! I’m assuming the wheel and hub are one unit? A method (not one I have used btw) is to first paint the hub in your chosen colour. Once dry, apply a liquid mask such as pva glue to the painted area. Once that has set, spray the wheel. The mask can then be picked off with a toothpick once the paint has dried. It’s a modification of a technique used for painting camouflage on plane wings. If you don’t want to use pva, use a blob of blu tack instead. Even with a coat of paint it is still malleable and has the advantage of being re usable. Good luck Trevor
dnl42 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Perhaps try the pinned method. While I airbrush all but the smallest details, I've learned that method is very effective. That said, I do have a Silhouette Portrait cutting machine, so I can, and have, cut correctly sized wheel and tire masks. One bit of advice I offer for making and airbrushing is to look at the part and determine which you paint first. Sometimes it's best to airbrush the entire part 'Tire Black' and use the mask to paint the wheel, other times, the reverse is best. 1
Tojo72 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 You might want to give these a look,I hear good things about them,a lot of places have them. https://www.hobbylinc.com/ak-real-colors-acrylic-paint-marker-for-wheels-3-hobby-and-craft-paint-marker-set-rcm102?source=froogle&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmjC_Fzsi5dwNAT3m5Xyo5G5T-o7QY3Mr_Xkb8dRPcnX4KmlSiBvLg3CqwaApXFEALw_wcB
Mark Harmsworth Posted January 30 Posted January 30 If you have a steady hand then why not brush paint? This is what I do (no masking necessary): - Stick the wheel onto something like a cocktail stick / toothpick which enables you to hold it steady and to rotate it - paint the hub - use thinned paint for the tyre while rotating gently (that's the wheel not yourself) - the thinned paint should flow towards, but not over, the rim of the hub I think I'm maybe lucky to have steady enough hands for this but I can definitely recommend it. And it avoids having to clean the airbrush - again. Good luck Mark 1
gamevender Posted January 30 Posted January 30 If I apply any sort of liquid mask, I find it best to apply it over a glossy surface. If applied over a matte surface it can be much more difficult to remove without damaging the underlying paint. I normally use the circle template method although it can get fiddly trying to hold the part, the template and the airbrush all at the same time.
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 31 Posted January 31 Here's my method. 1, Paint the hub colour. Let this set for over 24 hours. 2, Go around the rim with a black gelpen, to define a boundary. Use the ridge to help. Another method that needs bit more practice, is to use a fine brush to drop diluted black paint into the groove. Capillary action will carry this around the rim. 3, Again, let it set for over 24 hours. 4, It's now a lot easier to freehand brush the tyre colour. If there's a center-hole, put the wheel onto a cocktail stick, turning it slowly whilst you apply the paint. 1
boston1832 Posted February 3 Author Posted February 3 Belated thanks guys to all the suggestions provided here, there are certainly plenty of ideas to try there. I was so fired up that I called into my local model shop on the way home today to buy supplies...it was closed 😞 Really grateful that there are so many here to willingly help a relative newbie. 1
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