Painting the front wheels

Hi All

First post. So far I have kits #1 and #2.

Front wheels have been built for a month and it is time to start painting them.

Got my Craftmaster Grey Primer, Dark Red Undercoat and Chocolate top coat.

So my first question is, with the vulcanised wheels it looks as though the rubber coats the whole of the outer circumference of the wheel, right to the edge. Do you paint over that, remove or paint up to?

Apologies upfront for what is probably going to the first of a number of noddy questions

2nd question -  Is using the Craftmaster grey primer the best solution onto the bare metal or is a spray can etch primer a better bet? And if so does it work ok with the Craftmaster Undercoat?

Hi Synergyn9
I haven't painted wheels that small but I would tackle them the same as I did on my 4".
Do not attempt to cut the rubber off, use a good quality masking tape torn into 3/4-1" lengths to mask around the rubber edge, up to the steel rim then once both sides are masked in this way mask the rest of the rubber with a single tape.
Now all that is said take your time and have fun.
As for the questions regarding Craftmaster pain It might be worth contacting them for advice. I used an equivalent hi build primer and coach enamel supplied by a local stockist. (www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk)

Simon C

Thanks Simon. Will get on with the masking up

No problem Synergyn9

"Apologies upfront for what is probably going to the first of a number of noddy questions"
Asking a question is a route to learning.
By the way it took me 12 months almost to finish the job off.

Quick tip, don't leave the masking tape on any longer than is necessary, otherwise it's a pig to get off!

bazzer wrote:Quick tip, don't leave the masking tape on any longer than is necessary, otherwise it's a pig to get off!

Longer than necessary - is that days, weeks, months?

No more than a couple of weeks, but I put new tape after each coat of primer, undercoat and top coat.

I used etching primer and craftmaster under coat and enamel paint

Mark - how many coats did you apply in the end? Also, presume on the front axle to front fork mating surfaces you left bare metal to bare metal?

I used one coat of etching primer 2 coats of undercoat and 3 coats of enamel and I left all mating surfaces bare

Hi Synergy, great work looks good. Just want to reinforce Marks comment about not painting mating surfaces. Keep that in mind the whole build. Think about how the parts are assembled, there has been a few times i have had to removed a layer of paint to restore the required fit and clearances