T/A snowflake wheels

[ksnow]

Starting to build up a 1977 Trans Am, from an older Ertl kit. The wheels are on the chrome tree. They are supposed to be the gold snowflakes, with gold on the inside and the outer surfaces remain chrome, which I will dullcote. 

Any hints for the easiest way to do this? Was thinking to paint the wheels gold and wipe off the paint on the high parts, similar to a wash. Any other ideas?

Here's a pic of what the wheels look like in 1:1.

 

[espo]

That may be the easiest way. My suggestion would be to use either Tamiya X-12 Gold Leaf or something similar. One thought would be to not completely mix in the pigment that gathers on the bottom of the jar. Rely on the clearer portion of the paint with just a little of the pigment preset.  Try your technique on the chrome tree to get the desired effect. The gold on the factory wheels weren't a high gloss, sort of a medium sheen. Some of the hard Q-Tips that are sold in many model shops work well for cleaning off the detail edges on the wheel. A light amount of paint thinner may be needed and this type of Q-Tip usually will not "bleed out" onto the gold portion. Hope that helps and consider posting your results.   

[ksnow]

Thanks, espo. I will look for those harder q-tips. I was going to matte or satin coat the wheels after painting and detailing to better simulate the aluminum finish on the originals.

I'll put up pictures when I get them done to my liking.

[Plowboy]

I would strip them, paint with Tamiya Gold and the do the face of them with a silver Sharpie. The center cap and lug nuts could be done with a Molotow pen. 

[Mark]

X2 on losing the plating.  The wheels without plating should be a lot sharper.

[ksnow]

Thank you Mark and Plowboy. Losing the plating is definitely an option. That would crisp up the detail a lot.

[Elmer Fudd]

Not sure if it's doable but after the strip and the gold painted, maybe you could spin them in a drill motor and dry-brush the silver on similar to the way the factory cut the face after the gold was on.

[Deuces ll]

That's the way my wheels on the Mustang were done... Painted first and then machined on a cnc lathe.....

Edited August 27, 2020 by Deuces ll

[Slotto]

I painted mine with gold enamel then wiped off the over brushed area with a q-tip.

[Deuces ll]

Looks great!.... ??

[Bills72sj]

That turned out great!

[ksnow]

Slotto, those look great.

Mine just got the bleche white treatment this weekend. I will be spraying them gold and trying a silver sharpie for the details.

[TransAmMike]

Nice work !?

[ksnow]

I stripped the wheels with blech white whitewall cleaner. Then I sprayed them with gold Rustoleum paint. Used a silver sharpie oil paint marker to pick out the silver. Still have to do the lugnuts and center caps.

[ksnow]

Here is the pic.

[gman]

Those turned out very nice.

[Eddie Cremer]

On 8/27/2020 at 9:27 AM, Plowboy said:

I would strip them, paint with Tamiya Gold and the do the face of them with a silver Sharpie. The center cap and lug nuts could be done with a Molotow pen. 

X3 on what he said.  Strip them, then paint the gold coves, then paint the rim and flats  of the spokes silver, perhaps with a semi-gloss clear top coat.

Since I've been out of the hobby for 9 years, what is this Molotow pen I keep seeing people talking about?

[gman]

On 9/5/2020 at 11:18 AM, Eddie Cremer said:

X3 on what he said.  Strip them, then paint the gold coves, then paint the rim and flats  of the spokes silver, perhaps with a semi-gloss clear top coat.

Since I've been out of the hobby for 9 years, what is this Molotow pen I keep seeing people talking about?

https://www.hobbylobby.com/Art-Supplies/Drawing-Illustration/Markers/Molotow-Liquid-Chrome-Marker/p/LC101225

Lots of videos on youtube, using the ink straight out of the markers, or airbrushing the ink decanted from a marker (or better yet, poured from one of the refills available).

[ksnow]

Finally got to hobby lobby to pick up a molotow pen. Here is the final result. To recap, the wheels were stripped of the chrome plating in whitewall cleaner. Then I sprayed them with Rustoleum 2x gold. The silver on the wheel face was done with a sharpie silver paint pen. Lugs and center caps were picked out with a molotow pen. Unfortunately the kit does not come with decals for the caps.