Best method of masking this?

[RichB]

Right chaps, as this is a motoring web-site I thought I'd ask you lot a motoring related question

I want to refurbish the aluminium number plates on my 1:1 scale car which means polishing and re-spraying them. It's obviously not a difficult job but I'm worried about the black paint seeping under the masking tape and ruining the job. Looking at the picture below, as an example, what you would modellers best recommend to mask up the letters & numerals? I was thinking masking tape cut with a scalpel? Is there a really good quality tape I should use?

[TheEnd]

Paint the whole thing black, then sand the letters back with a fine grade whtstone / knife sharpener

[RichB]

Yeah, I considered that but I don't think that's how they would have been painted originally? Being aluminium the fine ali' dust would get all over the fresh paint.

Edited by RichB on Saturday 12th March 19:57

[HereBeMonsters]

RichB said:

Yeah, I considered that but I don't think that's how they would have been painted originally? Being aluminium the find ali' dust would get all over the fresh paint.

Let it dry first, obviously!

[RichB]

Didn't think of that...

[perdu]

I'd let the black dry

Then put a sheet of 1200 grit W&D on a sheet of glass and rub in a circular or parallel motion (depends on how it is now) to take off the lettering and surround edging paint

Then wash it in soapy water and dry rag mop off

Just treat it pretty well like the bigger thing

(I won't say "real thing" this is just as real!)

edit

did I just re-read and notice I didn't read it properly the first time?

Doh!

Again...

Do wot dr_gn says

Maskol Smoothrite Satin or Gloss (sweeten to taste)

remove Maskol and clean up

iTs not as difficult to get it right in 1:1 scale, believe me

Edited by perdu on Saturday 12th March 21:33

[dr_gn]

Depends on how flat the letters are. If they are 'as new' then painting and sanding might work. If there are any dings or kinks in them, it'll look crap.

Personally I'd polish the letters, mask them with Maskol latex fluid, and then spray with a few coats of black Smoothrite. Peel the Maskol off immediately and if there is any overspray clean it off carefully with a thinners soaked cotton bud. When fully cured (ie a week later), polish the whole thing again.

As always, it's worth testing whatever method you decide to go with on a small bit first.

[RichB]

Thanks chaps, that's useful stuff. I've not used Maskol - I'll investigate it. You'll get me back into modelling again soon at this rate

I was digging around in my mum's garage last week and came across some 1:32 pre-war car models I made about 30 years ago. I must set-up a "barn-find" photo for you

[perdu]

RichB said:

Thanks chaps, that's useful stuff. I've not used Maskol - I'll investigate it. You'll get me back into modelling again soon at this rate

I was digging around in my mum's garage last week and came across some 1:32 pre-war car models I made about 30 years ago. I must set-up a "barn-find" photo for you

Do

That will be fun