But I really want to custom paint some locomotives, both in N and HO scale. I dont have any worries with masking off parts of the body or dissasembaling the body or anything. But, I really dont know the best way to mask off the windows, lights, and number boards… I guess I just use proper masking tape but do I just keep guessing as to how big and the shape of the tape and keep test fitting it to each window? Is that liquid mask a good choice? Do I have to just remove the windows all together? Headlights and number boards too? I am probably making this way more complicated than it needs to be… Help is appreciated!
“The only stupid question is the one never asked”- I don’t remeber
Most locomotives you can take tose pieces off if you don’t feel comfortable masking them. I imagine the best way would be to put the tape over the windows/numberboard and then get an idea of where the part ends. Once you have that, use an x-acto blade to cut the tape around the windows/numberboards/etc.
Most of us that paint locos and passenger cars run into your same situation. I’ve attempted shortcuts, but have found that the best way to proceed is to remove the windows from the model, hands down.
The only scenario in which I would mask off windows is if they were glued on so well that removing them would cause them to crack.
I haven’t used it yet, but there is a liquid masker available for scale modelers that works similarly to the liquid chemical masker used for auto body applications. It is brush on properly with every area of each window covered, allowed to dry and then airbrushing operations can commence.
What type and brand name of loco shells are you refinishing?
I agree with the above, of course one of the first things you want to do is take the shell off and wash it in a good warm water and dish detergent solution to get any oils off the plastic, then once it air dries, start masking off your areas that you don’t want painted. Once you do that, paint away!
Awesome inormation, thanks everybody! The locomotive shells are all made by Atlas. I have locomotives all painted for Chessie System Roads (Chessie, C&O, B&O, WM paint) and was inspired to model a different era and locale ~ Washington to Oregon. Soooo, I am now modeling a new freelanced road in that area
Good luck with it and while you’re doing the painting deal, you might want to check out your LHS (Local Hobby Shop), and see what kind of super-detailing stuff you can get for said engines so that you can kill two birds with one stone, paint em and detail them out too.
I once had an artist friend that worked, primarily, in water color. He used a product called Friskit or Frisket to mask off areas on the painting that he didn’t want to be painted… in other words areas that he wanted to remain white. He’d then do the watercolor and after it dried he simply peeled away the mask. I believe this is the product… http://www.dickblick.com/products/grumbacher-miskit-frisket/ I’ve often wondered if this is the solution to masking off windows and number boards in model painting. Jarrell
Agreed. Now’s the time to add all the little do-dads. Here’s a place to start. http://www.detailswest.com/
There’s another company that sells complete detail sets for different locos but I can’t remember who it is.