Painting torque thrust rims

[HOLMES55]

I have these chrome torque thrust rims from the 1968 Bullit mustang kit that I wanted to paint the spokes gray for the magnesium look.

I have seen other models with spokes painted and wanted to know other peoples technique to paint their rims. I prefer masking tape

and spray paint but it seems like it might be easier to brush paint them. When I brush paint sometimes you can see the brush marks.

[Kit Basher]

I just brush painted these with Testors enamel. It's a mixture of black and aluminum. If you just put the paint on and don't keep brushing it, you should not get brush marks. Hope that helps!

[Monty]

I prefer to use a couple brushes to paint wheels like that. Start with a 20/0 to work around the lug nuts & center cap before stepping up to a slightly larger brush for the back half of the wheel & the spokes. Take note of where the painted part of the wheel ends and where the machined edge begins.

Two issues:

1) If you want an actual magnesium finish, I'd recommend finding a bottle of Testors Metalizer in that shade.

2) If you like the light grey shown in your second pic, Testors acrylic XF-66 pretty much nails it, although going by what you wrote about brush marks, you'll probably be much better off by finding an exact match for that shade in an enamel.

[JTalmage]

I paint the center of the rims, and use a toothpick with a bit of paper towel ripped off and wrapped around the tip to wipe off the excess.

[HOLMES55]

Hugh - nice work on those rims, that's what I am trying to end up with. maybe a lighter shade of gray

Monty - I tested some acrylic paint on the chrome sprue and it doesn't adhere well. I havent tried the metalizer. I think a flat primer is more what im after.

Jesse - I will try that idea or just touch up lug nuts with a silver sharpie

[Guest]

I brush paint mine. Acrylic (water based) paint is the key (for me) to getting a finish without brush marks. I mix flat white and satin black together to get the color I want. Add a little water,mix well and go. It's better to apply two thin coats than one thick one.

[jrherald420]

I use enamel or lacquer and a small long brush, never have had a problem with sticking on the chrome. Sometimes it takes 2 coats to get the coverage i want.

[JTalmage]

Hugh - nice work on those rims, that's what I am trying to end up with. maybe a lighter shade of gray

Monty - I tested some acrylic paint on the chrome sprue and it doesn't adhere well. I havent tried the metalizer. I think a flat primer is more what im after.

Jesse - I will try that idea or just touch up lug nuts with a silver sharpie

I just use the toothpick again if the wheel is already chrome. it rubs the paint right off. Also, I usually will keep old Testors paint caps around and take the cardboard seal out, clean them out and use them to mix up custom colors, or to thin the paint by adding some thinner, so you could also do that to keep the brush marks out of the paint, just thin it down a little so it's not as thick. Wouldnt take much really. Or, sort of dry brush it on and dab it so it gives it a grainy appearance. Then just wipe the rest off. Might have to add a little thinner if it gets too dry.

[Cato]

If you want something other than the gray look, Testors Jet Exhaust looks very much like my 1:1 mag Halibrands when cast.

[HOLMES55]

Thanks for the tips, looks like I am going to have to work on my brush painting. I haven't been using thinner so I am going to try that.

[Mike Kucaba]

I have no tip on the color, but think about using a piece of tubing that fits to isolate the rim from the center and shoot the paint thru that.

[Kit Basher]

Brad, here's a couple more tips about painting. I use enamel unthinned, although Testors aluminum is pretty thin already. I get complete coverage in one coat. If you get the right amount of paint on your brush, you can just touch near a lug nut and the paint will flow around the nut, but not over it. Same thing with the center hub and where the spokes meet the rim. Let the paint go, and stop, where it wants to, instead of trying to brush it in exactly the right spot. You won't have brush marks cause you're not really brushing. Hope that makes some sense.

[berr13]

I use Testors enamels, but I've never had a problem with leaving brush strokes. I use a small bit of aluminum foil pressed inside something like a prescription bottle lid to do my mixing, and my primary colors are aluminum and gunmetal. Both are metallic, and provide (through mixing), any shade from aluminum to almost black. A careful application of chrome silver will correct any mistakes, especially on the lug nuts.

[Speedfreak]

Someone needs to make these wheels already colored, they'd sell mucho, mucho of them. But then again being able to do them well is a real accomplishment/challenge for car modelers.

[cobraman]

What the kit makers really need to do is to start making 3 piece wheels. Front rim. rear rim. and center section. It would then be so simple to paint the center section.

[HOLMES55]

Mike - I have thought about getting a piece of tubing to mask off the outer rim but I haven't found anything with the right diameter. I might be able to make

something with .010 styrene wrapped around a rod with the right diameter and tape it together.

Hugh - I know what you mean about the paint flowing off the brush. I noticed this when I was testing the paint on the chrome sprue.

[Speedfreak]

What the kit makers really need to do is to start making 3 piece wheels. Front rim. rear rim. and center section. It would then be so simple to paint the center section.

That, would be brilliant!

[bigbluesd]

Seems to me like silly putty would be a good method to use for masking this and spraying it.

[Speedfreak]

In the mean time keep your paint brushes clean and trimmed.

[wisdonm]

For you guys looking for someplace to mix paint, I use upside down beer soda aluminum cans. I even get small amounts of spray can paint by holding the aluminum can in a waste basket and giving it a quick spritz.

[Belugawrx]

Got this tip from Freakshow (Fred McKee) and it worked great

White glue and water brushed onto the outer rims you want to keep chrome,...

Couple coats wait over night between coats,...

Spray away!!

Used Duplicolour Gloss black over the chrome spokes...

I'm Likin'

Cheers

Edited June 14, 2014 by Belugawrx

[Speedfreak]

Bruce, Do you just leave the water/glue solution on, without removing it? Nah, you gotta take it off right?

[Belugawrx]

Bruce, Do you just leave the water/glue solution on, without removing it? Nah, you gotta take it off right?

Hey Gene Ya

Forgot the final step... Doh!

Wash off the glue off after paint has completely dried

with hot water to finish

[Speedfreak]

Wait a minute? You put the glue on, paint over it, ('cause if your spraying it's gonna get paint on it) and 'then' wash it off?

Edited June 14, 2014 by Speedfreak

[Belugawrx]

Yep

The hot water will get under the water based glue and with no persuasion with a soft toothbrush,.

It dissolves,... basically,.. leaving virgin chrome

try it you like it

Edited June 15, 2014 by Belugawrx