wheel mask

Lynn - If you build armor you can pick up a circle template at staples or Office Depot. It's an infinite template that lasts forever and works on every wheel!!

Rounds Complete!!

Yes, I agree with Mike (redleg12)... circle templates are one of my best friends.  Actually I used it last night to paint the wheels of my Panzer IV... heck it comes with one too many wheels but it was easy and fun. 

First paint the wheels black or whatever if it has rubber then paint the wheels with basecoat topped with the circle template if you have an airbrush.  Tape those unused circles surrounding the chosen circle first. 

Try that and you will love it more than Mike...

Ditto on the cirlcle template... Best wheel-masking tool ever made..

Also, what's a good way to hollow out the barrel of Tamiya 50 caliber machine guns.  I'm thinking of a pin vise but this seems not all that logical. 

Actually, that's about the ONLY way to do it easily, IMHO... The trick is keeping in theCENTER... That's a little tougher.. Sand it flat, first of all.. There's a mold-seam there that'll throw you off every time..

Then, drill a "pilot hole" using a smaller  bit (around a 78 or so), then use successively bigger ones until you've reached the diameter you want.. Depth is NOT as important as keeping it centered, as adding a drop of flat-black will give it the needed depth..

I use the circle template also but heres  just a little different way of doing the same thing as the guys above . I used this on wheels and tires which you will be doing on the front of this your vehicle .

First i paint the wheels .

Then i use plastic cap of the appropriate size held in place with a finger .

And spray the tire color around it .

The results are good and fast .

Hey guys--can't thank all of you enough for the help on wheel masking---template really makes sense and I just said to myself "why didn't I think of it before? " (!).  I'm off to Staples to get one and it should work great as all of you said.  Also, wanted to thank Hans for the crash course on hollowing out barrels with sanding and pin vise.  That sounds great as well.  Once again, thanks to all of you.  I'll have to make use of Fine Scale's Forums more often!

Lynn

No worries... you only owe us a .  Be sure to post your work here... remember we love pictures! 

..............and beer