Painting Windscreen Surrounds

Dear All, I'd be very interested to know the best ways of painting a windscreen surround on a 1/43 scale model.

I have been painting up a 1976 Mini 1000 'Stripey' model and converting it into a Mini 850 in Flamenco Red, which was my Mum's first car. As the base car had chrome windscreen surrounds, I masked them with paint on mask, sprayed the body then peeled the masking off and hey-presto, chrome surrounds.

What methods work best for you when starting with a resprayed bodyshell and looking to put a black (or chrome) windscreen surround on? Do you paint with a fine brush, a screw driver or other tool, or use a suitable, fine decal?

Many thanks in anticipation, Steve

Personally Steve, I use a good quality small brush and handpaint them on - but I must admit, I've got a pretty steady hand.

I'm sure I've heard people on the old forum mention some kind of pen that you can get, and it's specifically designed for window rubbers and the like. Maybe one of the lads could contribute a name of the pen?

Good luck mate - it'd be shame to ruin those Metro prototypes for the sake of a badly finished window rubber!

Gundam marker for the front and rear screens Also now use acrylic paint on sides of the M3s-excess can be quickly removed with a damp cotton bud before it dries.

See, I knew there was some kind of pen available, but I just couldn't recall what it was called.

Just search on ebay for 'Gundam marker' Steve, and there's loads of them in Taiwan or Honkers for £2.40 upwards.

Cowley wrote:See, I knew there was some kind of pen available, but I just couldn't recall what it was called.

Just search on ebay for 'Gundam marker' Steve, and there's loads of them in Taiwan or Honkers for £2.40 upwards.

Yes, indeed, David. I've been looking at them closely. Thought I'd try my local model shop before ordering anything from the Bay of e, though it sounds like they are quite a specialised bit of kit so I'll need to source them from abroad. Mind you, acrylic paint's easy to get hold of!!

I've managed to take a shot or two of my 6R4 prototypes and am awaiting a reply from Pete about windscreen wipers, as I don't have any, before making a start on either of them.

I'm off to Halfrauds now to get some paint!! Have models to make - have decided my next model will be an unusual rally model which doesn't involve any of the decal sets I've accumulated in the last few weeks! Just need some blue paint!

Cheers, Steve

Just so people know, you can get these pens at a local hobbycraft store. I know, because I bought one from there a while back along with a couple of other colours

Looking forward to seeing some pics soon Hampton. Could you pm me with how much the prototype 6R4 kit is. As I would like one of them, not that I would know how to build it mind!

Hi Nicky. PM sent

Steve

How to do chromed windscreen surrounds? Solution is a Bare Metal Foil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzMwyJa6ERg

Heiti wrote:How to do chromed windscreen surrounds? Solution is a Bare Metal Foil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzMwyJa6ERg

Wow! Hadn't seen the bare metal foil technique being used before. The guy on the link makes it look so easy, and he is using a larger scale model to demonstrate the techniques too. But the result is excellent. Thanks for the link, Heiti.

Now, how brave am I feeling??

Cheers, Steve

Hampton Caught wrote:Now, how brave am I feeling??

Well, brave enough to have bought some 'Bare-Metal' self-adhesive foil! Now I just need to get up the bravery to use it!! Gulp! Once I've got a black Gundam marker, I'll be ready for all my windscreen surrounds!!

Cheers, Steve

It would be much more difficult on a 1:43 metal model that doesn't have panel lines as deep as a 1:24 plastic kit.

This bare metal stuff can also be used as masking tape. I've seen that in a build report and the result was really good.

I dare say you're right, didcos. As Harry Hill would say, there's only one way to find out'. In this case, it's not 'fight', but 'try'!

Great idea about the masking. Will keep that in mind for some of my upcoming projects .

Cheers, Steve

Dear All,

Just a quick update on the windscreen surround issue: I have now successfully used both a black Gundam Marker and the metal foil and am very pleased with the results. I can report back that, with a sharp craft knife, a 1/43 scale model's panel lines are deep enough to trim the foil to get a suitably sharp and true line. Yippee!

I'd love to put a photo up and show you the results, but unlike the 'old' forum, I haven't been able to get the photos up. I had put some shots up on Flickr of the same car at Snetterton in December 1989 for 'Roger', the fella who was/ is selling the 6R4: 'D111 BEG'. I'd asked him to acknowledge me as and when he used them, as I'd taken the shots myself back then. You can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I found my own photo on his website with no acknowldgement! Not happy!!

Don't feel inclined to put anymore shots on Flickr now! Thanks for your help and advice guys, much appreciated.

Cheers, Steve

Use Photobucket instead then Steve, because you can set the album to private only so that it won't come up when people search for stuff - well, I'm hoping that's how it works anyway! Flickr might well have the same sort of settings. I do have a few albums there as well, but I just don't use it as much mate.

Glad you're all sorted on the black and chrome finish windscreen surrounds then fella. Would love to see some results but can appreciate your concerns re photo copyright infringement and all that.

David, thanks for the Photobucket idea. I'll look into that when I get the time.

Must admit, I'm enjoying myself making models at the moment, despite the odd set back, but it's a learning experience. I'm rehearsing for three shows currently (I do a lot of amateur dramatics, always musicals) so I'm going to have to tidy up my tools and tiny pieces of plastic, die cast and paint, ready for a busy May on the boards.

Bear with me, David! having encouraged me to pop some shots of my handiwork on the old forum (inc the Rob Gibson 6R4) I've not been able to repeat it on here yet.... but I will.

By the way, Rob Gibson was impressed with my model of his car when I met him at Lydden Hill last month. He even wanted me to come back to speak with him later but I wasn't able to as I had to get back home! Grrrr! Rob did sign the display case for me, which was good of him. I will get a shot of the model in the signed box on here, eventually!!

Cheers, Steve