Painting wheel spokes/ Road Grime

[Roadkill2525]

What is the best way to mask and paint the spokes on wheels like this while keeping a chrome lip?

American Racing 200S

What is the best stuff to use that replicates road grime besides Tamiya weathering sets? I have Rub 'N' Buff for worn off paint on the frame.

Edited October 21, 2008 by El Destructo Inc

[mikelo]

Try using liquid mask. I have used it on several wheels with good results.

Mike

[Brendan]

I use Elmer's white glue. It's essentially the same thing as Liquid Mask. As for the road grime, use Elmer's White Glue and dirt from outside and make it into a paste and brush it on.

[LVZ2881]

great question Michael, I had been wondering about masking wheel spokes myself....

I'll try the Elmers trick...

[Dennis Lacy]

Excuse the ignorance of this question, do you brush-on the liquid mask or white glue?

[Brendan]

Excuse the ignorance of this question, do you brush-on the liquid mask or white glue?

Yes, you do brush them on. Let it dry and see if you have any spot that you need to add more to. So it covers completely. After it's cured, then go ahead and paint your rims. After the paint is dried, you can peel off the liquid mask or white glue. Any more questions, feel free to ask. That how we learn.

[Brendan]

i was wondering and this could be a completely wacked idea, but for doing simulated brake dust on wheels, like a rally car or something, would it be possible to mount the wheel and tire in a dremel or "other" spinning device and spray the appropriate brake dust color by airbrush through the wheel from the back side while it's spinning? i know it sounds nuts, but it's an idea to think about, maybe try. a slow speed would probably work best, but experimentation would be key here. brake dust on 1:1 wheels usually isn't on the face of the wheel spokes, but collected between them.

Dave

It should work, but the way I do mine is I mix up a flat black and some aluminum acrylic paint and thin it down heavily into a wash. Then I put a drop of it in between the spokes and use a straw and blow so it gives a streaking motion which seems to work pretty well for me.