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For general automotive modeling or non-modeling topics.
Pinstriping?
Cosimodo
#335
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Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Saturday, February 08, 2020 - 06:18 PM UTC
For my current build of the RHD Escort the car is blue from the door handles down, white above. Just above the block of blue there is a thin blue line, the pinstripe.
I was going to paint the blue slightly higher and use some existing white decals cut into very thin strips and use that to create the blue stripe. Any other ideas?

thanks

Michael
AussieReg
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
#007
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Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Saturday, February 08, 2020 - 06:53 PM UTC
Perhaps paint the white slightly lower, then cut a thin strip of masking tape to lay down where the white stripe is below the blue stripe?

Are you painting the whole body white then masking for the blue?

Cheers, D
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2020 - 02:39 AM UTC
Michael,
The decal approach if you can cut consist stripes is the easiest way to do it. But the Blue would have to be the same exact color as your body color.

Since it's a blue stripe over White, I'd prime in very light gray or White. Then paint the white color coat. Then mask for the Blue Stripe at the same time you paint the Blue color coat. Going to be a lot of masking, but you'd have to mask the White upper anyway.

Joel
Cosimodo
#335
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Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2020 - 11:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Perhaps paint the white slightly lower, then cut a thin strip of masking tape to lay down where the white stripe is below the blue stripe?

Are you painting the whole body white then masking for the blue?

Cheers, D



Hi Damian,
Yes whole body white, then blue. That's how I did it for the other Escort. Masked the white but that was a broad band of white. Here the blue pinstripe is very thin and I was worried that getting paint into a small gap might be problematic. I will try and mask and see what I think. Thanks for the feedback.

cheers
Michael
Cosimodo
#335
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: September 03, 2013
KitMaker: 1,808 posts
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2020 - 11:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Michael,
The decal approach if you can cut consist stripes is the easiest way to do it. But the Blue would have to be the same exact color as your body color.

Since it's a blue stripe over White, I'd prime in very light gray or White. Then paint the white color coat. Then mask for the Blue Stripe at the same time you paint the Blue color coat. Going to be a lot of masking, but you'd have to mask the White upper anyway.

Joel



The challenge indeed is getting a decal the same colour as the sprayed body colour. I though of spraying onto decal paper to get the match. Do you think that would work? It would be the easiest solution. Maybe as above I will try and spray some blank decal paper, seal it and see if it works. Thanks Joel. It looks as if I will do some experimenting. I will report back.

cheers
Michael
Cosimodo
#335
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Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - 09:12 PM UTC
So with three solutions it was time for some trials. I used 3 pieces of plastic card, and with some Tamiya rattle cans primed them, then sprayed Old English White on each card. No real finesse, I just wanted to try and see what the pinstripes would look like.

So #1, Damian's idea, just mask it up. In the middle I put a 1mm strip of tape, attempted to leave 0.5mm gap, using a evergreen strip, to create the pinstripe. Masked off the rest of the top of the card. Spayed unmasked part green

#2, my original thought, just masked off the top half. Sprayed a strip of blank decal paper (Testors) with old English White. From this cut a 1mm strip. Sprayed the green and then put down the decal 0.5mm from the top of the green to create the pinstripe.

#3 is Joel's idea which is the reverse of two, spraying decal paper with green, cut a 0.5mm strip and laid it down 1mm above the top of the green block to create the pinstrip.

Hope that all makes sense.
#1 has the best finish given it's just paint but it is very difficult to mask up just to leave 0.5mm gap. And that was on a flat card. A car body would be more difficult.
#3 is the neatest but it is very difficult to cut a 0.5mm strip and not have the paint break up on the decal. It easier to move around to adjust the gap to get the best result, unlike #2 where you are stuck with the width of the white band. I am sure if I had bother to seal the paint it may have been more robust.
#2 just didn't look right but as with #3 may be more control would help.

So I will try #3 and if that doesn't look right it will be easy to switch to #1

thanks for the input, pictures possibly after the weekend if all goes well.

cheers
Michael
Scarred
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Washington, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - 10:58 PM UTC
I suggest you try graphic tape to mask your line. It comes in a lot of widths, I got some as narrow as 1/64 of an inch. I don't know how strong the adhesive is but it would be easier than using cut decals to width. You can get it on Amazon, office supply stores and some art stores.

Using it for panel lines on RC plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO5F5Sp4zrI

There is also this method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm3I64hLfF0

And this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FkSwl8Hhnc

AussieReg
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
#007
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Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - 11:15 PM UTC
Great job on the trial Michael, and good feedback for us!

Have a look at the Infini Cutting Mat Range that I reviewed here, this would be perfect for what you are trying to do. The Type A mat is just straight lines graduated down to 0.4mm, and the lines are actually very fine grooves in the mat to guide your knife, so you don't even need a straight edge.

Cheers, D
Cosimodo
#335
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: September 03, 2013
KitMaker: 1,808 posts
Auto Modeler: 701 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 13, 2020 - 11:53 AM UTC
Thanks Patrick for the links there is some great info in there.

cheers
Michael
Cosimodo
#335
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: September 03, 2013
KitMaker: 1,808 posts
Auto Modeler: 701 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 13, 2020 - 11:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Great job on the trial Michael, and good feedback for us!

Have a look at the Infini Cutting Mat Range that I reviewed here, this would be perfect for what you are trying to do. The Type A mat is just straight lines graduated down to 0.4mm, and the lines are actually very fine grooves in the mat to guide your knife, so you don't even need a straight edge.

Cheers, D



That's great idea for the cutting mat. Another item on the list to get.

cheers
Michael
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