Best way to polish final coat around details without removing paint?

[seanyb505]

I'm starting to notice that as I ascend through the polishing grits that I can't get right up to details without removing paint from the detail. The result is either there is a difference in appearance between the polished area and the non polished space surrounding the detail, or I take all the paint off the raised details.

Is there a tool I can use to use to get precise motions with polishing cloths? Or should I just always expect that I will need to lay another coat to ensure complete coverage?

[JollySipper]

You may be able to use this problem to your advantage! Are the details you polish through to scripts and badges that are meant to be chrome? If so, you can foil these areas before you paint, then when you polish, you will expose the foil and have a nice chrome script!

[64SS350]

Try making your own with a piece of wood dowel or plastic and gluing your grit you're working with on the end, you can cut any shape to accommodate the area of need.

[Jeremy Jon]

Also try masking the detail area to protect it, just as we do when power polishing 1:1 vehicle, use a low-tack tape like the Tamiya, and double it's thickness even, I usually cut it and make double thickness for protecting prone areas

Edited September 2, 2013 by Jeremy Jon

[seanyb505]

The detail in question is the area of the side vents on a Road Runner/Superbird body. It's not going to be chrome so I'm not sure the BMF before painting will work, maybe a combination of the two methods, applying BMF to raised areas after the final coat but before polishing?

Thanks for the ideas!