2008 Bullitt Mustang wheels/ tail lights

[tuffone20]

I'm building the Bullitt Mustang and am having a problem trying to get the wheels painted. I stripped the chrome off and then air brushed them with Model Masters Gun Metal and tried to hand paint the Aluminum around the wheel lip, but it came out looking like it was hand painted!!

For the Aluminum I used some Model Masters Aluminum enamel.

Has anyone else found a better way of painting them to make the wheels look right?

Thanks, Marty

Edited May 12, 2010 by tuffone20

[Casey]

You might try painting the entire wheel the aluminum color you want the outer lip to be in lacquer or a very hot modeified enamel, and after that's cured, paint the gunmetal color with an enamel paint. While the enaml is still wet, use a cloth dampened wit mineral spirits to remove the gunmetal paint from the lip. Mounting each wheel to a toothpick or some other round rod would help you spin it as you wipe.

[diymirage]

i would try painting the whole thing gunmetal and then finding a template (bottle cap 3/4 socket, what have you) to cover up the center and then spray the alu trim on

[MikeMc]

Spray the whole wheel then use liquid mask to cover up what you want shiny...spray your gunmetal.....

[whale392]

As you have already stripped the chrome and shot the Gunmetal, MikeMcs' idea would probably be the best way to go. Had they still been chromed, shooting the Gunmetal first and wiping the lip off with thinner while the Gunmetal was still tacky would have been a better way to go.

[KevinJarvis]

Here's a trick that I used to use to paint raised white letters on tires.

Take a 3x5 recipe card. Spread the paint out on the card thinly and evenly. Then just lay the wheel down on the card.

If the thickness of the paint is just right, it should come out nice and even on the wheel.

Of course, it's been years since I've done tires so not sure if this is a great idea for wheels.

[tuffone20]

Thanks for the replies guys!! I might try and paint the outer lip of the wheel aluminum and then use some liquid mask on it and then paint the Gunmetal on one wheel and see how it comes out.

[MikeMc]

Thanks for the replies guys!! I might try and paint the outer lip of the wheel aluminum and then use some liquid mask on it and then paint the Gunmetal on one wheel and see how it comes out.

one trick I forgot to mention. I used 3 coats of liquid mask, the picture showed the 2nd coat. after that was dry I took a small length of 6mm tamiya tape and made a tab on the rim and painted the 3rd coat over the tape, let dry it and it was easy to peel off the mask without any scratches. I used the Bob Dively Mask and tamiyaTS lacquer smoke on those wheels....go for it and let us know how it worked...good or bad

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Here's an idea...paint the wheel with gunmetal and hit the rim with a silver Sharpie marker.

[Deckerz]

Hope this helps

http://xmodsource.com/forum/showthread.php?p=208145#post208145

[tuffone20]

Alright guys let me know what you think? Did I get them right and do you think I should put a claer coat on them?

And these are what I used on the wheels, the top one for the lugnuts and the other one for the outer lip of the wheel.

[MikeMc]

looks good.....a shot of semi gloss is all you need now!!!!

[tuffone20]

Ok I got the wheels done and I think they came out alright.

But now I have another thing to ask about. The rear tail lights which are clear and need to be painted and I would think I should BMF the tail light houseing? So what would be the best paint to use to paint the tail lights?

And here are some other photos of what I have done so far.

[SSNJim]

I foiled the reflectors on my Mustang, and used Tamiya Clear Red (X-27?) on the inside of the tail light. I used two or three coats until I got the density I wanted. I used Tamiya's semigloss black on the outside to define the three sections, so I could wipe it with a damp cloth/swab to clean up the lines, or polish as necessary. You could use a Sharpie, but they are pretty unforgiving and permanent. My tail lights compare favorably to your picture, even thought I painted the bottom section incorrectly - the two outboard sections are clear, inboard red. I don't know what I was thinking....

I just looked at your picture of the Bullitt tail light, and it doesn't seem to have the black horizontal bar that the GT/V6 has. I would use the same technique, just being a little more careful.

[Deckerz]

The wheels came out real nice!

I found best way to do the tail lights was to wash them in dish detergent with a tooth brush, it will not scratch and will give a good surface for paint, use tamiya clear red on the inside and spray few coats on, after dried used thinned black as a wash for the outside of the tail lights to do the lines, if you go over the lines just wet a cotton bud and it will take it off.