How do you paint the back of headlights?

[Marco_Wrc]

How can I paint the back of headlights without messing up the car (I don't have a steady hand). I ran a search on it but didn't find an answer. I also thought of how I could do it myself, but I can't figure out a good way to do it.

Ok, so what am I talking about exactly. Take a look at this picture:



The back of the lights needs to be painted with x11. (not the clear part of the light, but the area which is part of the body).
I thought of masking the light, but that's hard to do (also thought of silver foil, but that doesn't work). Maybe I can do it, but first I want to hear your advice.

Thanks in advance.

[tonioseven]

I use Bare Metal Foil, a cotton swap, and a toothpick.

[Marco_Wrc]

The problem is that it isn't a nice round shape, so cutting the foil is rather difficult.



The blue area is part of the light. It consists of 2 parts, both odd shaped (don't know exactly how to explain it).

[Towelboy80]

For more or less smooth surfaces, I use a self-adhesive aluminium foil.



In your case, I 'd paint the surface with the hand. I think it is the only way.

[zerrocool]

just mask it the same way you mask the window frames

[Marco_Wrc]

Originally posted by zerrocool
just mask it the same way you mask the window frames

Yes, I thought so. I'll give it a try.

[COZMO6476]

i made a similar model and i masked around the lights and airbrushed Alcad chrome silver. foil should also work but it can be frustrating sometimes. airbrushing is probably the easiest and quickest way to do it... here is a link to some pics of the car. LINK
and here's a quick pic to show what i mean

[Marco_Wrc]

Thank you for your advice.
I just painted the lights with use of masking tape and brushpaint. It looks good, it went rather easy as well, though I didn't expected it do be.

[daggerlee]

In your case I'd use Testors Model Master Chrome Silver, it's a pretty good chrome silver paint. I handpainted my Aristo lights with it freehand, went on pretty good!

[Jay!]

Mine is done w/ foil.



I just cut a foil rectangle about double the dimensions of the light, and jammed it in there with a cotton swab. When it's all burnished down (wrinkles don't matter much behind lenses), I trimmed it around the edges.

For reference, the headlights are foil, and the foglights are X11 acrylic. I like the foil better.

[Mean_B16]

I use Bare Metal Foil, a cotton swap, and a toothpick

Ditto.