Painting and Lighting a kit - Noob question

[Mechinyun]

Ok, so I am in the initial stages of building a my 1/350 PL enterprise kit. Never lit a model before, but going to buy trekmodelers kit, which looks to rock hard.

My question is, so you install the lighting kit, seal up the model. Now if I use my airbrush how do i prevent paint from going into the window holes/openings and either getting paint on the LEDs or filling the holes with paint?

Thanks!

 

[Medusa]

Ok, so I am in the initial stages of building a my 1/350 PL enterprise kit. Never lit a model before, but going to buy trekmodelers kit, which looks to rock hard.

My question is, so you install the lighting kit, seal up the model. Now if I use my airbrush how do i prevent paint from going into the window holes/openings and either getting paint on the LEDs or filling the holes with paint?

Thanks!

Good idea would be to let the fibres run out of the surface, like needles - paint the model - and after everything is dry enough cut them back fitting to the surface ( hope the words can be understood ).

 

[PHArchivist]

Good idea would be to let the fibres run out of the surface, like needles - paint the model - and after everything is dry enough cut them back fitting to the surface ( hope the words can be understood ).

Makes sense to me. Good idea.

 

[yt]

Or mask them with tape or a masking agent...

 

[Mechinyun]

Well I was not planning on using fiber optics, its just a bunch of LEDS sitting in inside the various sections of the ship. I dont think cutting out snips of tape/paper the size of a pin head sounds to fun either and sticking all over the port holes, I can't image people would do this? Any other answer I am missing?

 

[Gigatron]

Are the "windows" round or square?

If they're round, the simplest thing to do may be to paint the ship and then, very carefully, drill out the holes.

If they're square, maybe you can cut out the windows, mask them from the inside, assemble the ship and paint and then use a needle to punch through the masking tape so the light can shine out.

Just an idea.

-Fred

 

[Jedi Dade]

There is really no set rule to doing this. I've tried several ways, and what I find works best for "hole windows" is to prepaint the area around the "window", assemble the model then use liquid masking to cover the windows, paint the rest of the model remove the masking and clean up the edges with some FINE grit sandpaper... Usually wetsanding.

However if the windows are fiber optics - just push the fiber through glue it in place from the rear, and assemble and paint the model with all the little "stubs" of fiber sticking out all over. After painting snip the stubs flush.

But like I said theere is no "rule" on the best way to do it - this is what "usually' works for me...

Jedi Dade

 

[Lear60man]

Rubber cement makes a great mask. After painting it lifts off. If you do the fiber optic route you can use finger nail trimmers to clip the protruding fibers quickly and easily.

 

[HouseAtreides]

Any chance the pieces are clear? Then it's easier to paint the whole thing and the scrape off just the windows.

This is the kind of detail work that really makes a model. Take the time and mask every window with a tiny slip of pin striping tape, paint, then remove with an exacto blade tip or similar and do a fantastic job you will always be proud of!