Question Re: hood/trunk emblem painting

[chato de shamrock]

I'm one of those person's that doesnt have a very steady hand, so painting small things is very tricky for me to do. I'm somewhat of a detail freak so i want to build my cars as accurate as i can possibly make them. The last model i built was the Revell Integra and had no problem because, as many of you know, the kit came with the decals of the hood and trunk emblems. However, painting in the "V-Tech" sign on the engine was a pain. I used my smallest brush and some silver paint. I have to say it came out alright, but I can do better. There must be other ways of doing this type of work.

I've been looking around for ideas on painting the hood and trunk emblems of my S-15, and any other future cars for that matter. One of my LHS workers side he used thin paint brushes to paint their hood ornament, but i've been thinking about using Gundam's fine point markers for this type of work. Has anyone tried this before? Painting the front emblem of my Silvia looks a bit easier to do than the "Silvia" and (what looks to be the) "Nissan" signs thats located on the trunk of the car. Like i said before, painting small details with brushes is a pain for me because of my shakey hands. Can some of you share your methods for doing this type of detail work? There has to be other ways of doing this part of the model building than using brushes, aren't there?

I tried Gundam's extra fine point gray colored marker, but it seemed to have disappeared in the car's color. I've also gone to every hobby shop, internet site, and arts and crafts store i could think of looking for either white or silver extra fine point markers, but had no success. How do you fellas paint those small hood ornaments or car emblems that are already molded onto the hoods and/or turnks?

Like always, I'd appreciate any ideas, comments, or tips you guys can offer.

[redstang423]

Some people might suggest a paint pen/paint marker. I have never used one, so i dont know if they come in thin enough tips to use for painting emblems like the Type-R, but someone else will be able to answer that. It should be much easier to write the emblem rather than paint it.

[KTem]

Its do-able with a brush, but if your hands shake too much you can use a pen, I guess. It would be more precise.

Just make sure you don't have coffee prior to painting those emblems!! Really, it makes difference.

[Lambo003]

Funny you should ask this with less than 25 days to go but, around this time I gather up all my models in need of emblem painting. I then wait until around March 16th or so and capture myself a Leprechaun's pot of gold and will not return it until all my emblems are painted.

Their tiny little hands and attention to detail are superb for this process and so far it has worked the best for me.

If they mess up an emblem, no worries. . . Take a piece of gold and buy a new kit!!!. . .

Simple as that. . .

[chato de shamrock]

Wish it was that easy Lambo, but outsourcing has cause us to lose jobs to other countries and "the man" doesnt want to give us hispanics and Af. Americans the opportunity to make some of that gold you talked about.

I took advantage of hobby peoples sale. Unfortunately they were just about cleaned up when i got there, but i was able to get my hands on one of their last two Skyline's. My 1st two door skyline i own I asked the dude that rang me up how he does small detailed work but all i could get was cutting some of the bristles off of an already fine tipped brush.

By the way KTem, what size are those BBS wheels on your red BMW? Im looking for some to mount on an S-13.

Does anyone have any other methods of painting the small emblems molded on the cars hoods and trunks?

[MoeSzyslak73]

I've heard that "dry brushing" with the side of a brush would help. I haven't got any success, i must be doing it the wrong way. Pleeeeeeeze help.