painting lines

[Albert]

How would you solved these two cases?

I have to paint a thin chromed line in the sides of a model. (0,1 mm) The body is slightly engraved but not enought to follow the line with a brush. Masking both sides of the line is also difficult but maybe the only solution?

The second one is paint an Eko Citroën 2CV Van (remind that the surface is ondulated) with horizontal red and white 2 mm bars. Just like the van used by the Anguplas commercials.
I tried to paint the body in white and then stick masking tape and paint the red lines. The result was horrible. The 2 mm masking lines where to thin and didn´t stick well on the ondulated body of the 2CV van.

[Christian]

Painting thin lines - I hate it. I've been thinking about the following: take something flexible, maybe foam rubber that has the same thickness as the line you want to paint. Apply silver color on that "edge", then press against body. Like printing ...

Sylvain may have a tip for you as well.

[Sylvain]

Well, there is something I sometimes do, but it works better for chromed lines around windows than for mouldings, and it works only if you intend to paint the all body with a brush and not to use sprays. I paint the chrome line first, and I paint the body after, "around" the line. So it’s easier to get it thin and straight. But most of the time, in case of chrome mouldings on the side of a model, I only paint it with the thinner brush I’ve got the chrome line, and then, with the same brush, I rectify with the main colour of the car. But it’s not really fine.

Another way is to "accentuate" the moulding, using a thin line of adhesive paper. But I don’t know if it will work for something as thin as 0,1mm

In fact, it really depends of the car!

I’ve used the "printing" system for white tyres, but I’ve not been really successful.

[cfesmire]

I don't try to paint lines on vehicles such as your 2cv. Instaed I try to find decal sheets with lots of lines (similar to the old champ decals) One can usually find quite a variety of striping. And a good setting solution helps them lay down in those shapes other than flat of course.

[skunk]

For your Citroën, I would recommend Micro-Mark "Mask-It EASY" Liquid Masking Film (quite a mouthful), as it will follow any and all contours. Cover the entire (unpainted) 2CV and let it dry. You can draw on the dried surface, and then score it gently with a knife and peel of the parts to be painted. Airbrushing will probably be worth it, if you have the time and the means to do so.
Then, once it's dried nicely, peel off the masking material, and do the same thing for the other coat of colour. This avoids getting a thicker layer of one shade, but it's rather a lot of work and requires a lot of care when masking the second time around.

Masking with BMF usually works very well too, but it's quite expensive...

Chester's advice is probably the easiest, go for it if you happen to find the proper decals!

As for the chrome line, hmmm... a steady hand? Take some valium and then paint. ;D

[Albert]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

About decals, do you know about any address to get them. Here in Barcelona I have never found decals but the tipical 1/43 "Marlboro" and things like that.

BMF is that masking tape scored?

Also interesting the liquid mask. I would like to try it. I am going to search for this product.

[skunk]

Sorry, BMF=Bare Metal Foil. It is not intended for masking, but does the job very well. It is however, rather expensive.

[cfesmire]

Albert,
Microscale offers a great selection of decals, available through Walthers (they mail everywhere) www.walthers.com
One that I like, that goes a long way is "May Trucking" # 87-873. It offers very thin pin stripe lines in yellow, red, white, drk green and black. Along with it you get a lot of truck related stuff but there are some great American license plates and some really terrific graphic designs as well that of course can be customized with a pair of scissors.

[Lee]

There is a tool made for pin stripping on full size cars that works well. It is a series of metal wheels on a roller. You put on the number of wheels for the thickness of the line you want. There is a small space between the wheels that holds the paint. Don't ask brand name because I do not know.

[Albert]

About Bare Metal Foil, are you meaning to use it as the masking tape and remove it once painted?
And would it be possible to made the red lines on the white body with this BMF?

There is a tool made for pin stripping on full size cars that works well sounds good. I will investigate.

[Eric]

Here is a link to the website of a company that sells these pinstriping tools: www.beugler.com/beta.html. The smallest possible roller is 0.4 mm, so it might work....

[Albert]

Nice site, Thanks Eric.
I am going to have a look to the tools they offer.

[Lee]

Most interesting. What Eric found does the same thing but the tool is different. What I have seen, and it was years ago, was a series of thin disks with very small spacers on an axle. Two disks would create the thinest line. I like Erics tool better.

[skunk]

Christian said:

Painting thin lines - I hate it. I've been thinking about the following: take something flexible, maybe foam rubber that has the same thickness as the line you want to paint. Apply silver color on that "edge", then press against body. Like printing ...

While I have never tried "printing" something that big, I use a similar technique to make speedometer needles:
I cut an extremely narrow strip of aluminium foil, and bend the tip into the shape and length of the needle, then I "print" it in place. It may work for bigger lines as well?

[cfesmire]

Guys,
If you're thinking about using the pin striping tool for 1:87, forget it. I have one that I have used on larger boat models and it works well for 1:43 and larger but the line is just not consistent enough. I didn't buy a cheap one either.