nascar rims

**you wrote**
>>noticed that there a red or orange ring on all race cars.<<

Where, geographically, is this ring located?

**you wrote**
>>also im going to seal the decal/paint the a gloss clear coat form testers.<<

Check this out, and tell me if this is the kind of finish you want to achieve?

If so, here's how!
I discovered, if you apply a decal straight to the painted surface, THEN apply the gloss coat, anywhere the decal film is transparent, will create a "Haze" against the paint. Solution: Using #0000 Steel Wool, gently rub any imperfection in the paint, then rub over the place with a clean section of t-shirt, until it begins to shine again... then go over it with a damp section of that t-shirt, cleaning away any "finger oil stains", then rub the entire body with a "tac cloth". Spray a coat of Gloss Coat on the model, let it cure out good (24 hours), apply the decals on the slick surface (making sure you rub out any air bubbles and decal residue from the finish) let stand for 6 hours, THEN apply another gloss coat layer!

This allows the decal to adhere to a smoother surface, eliminates any "hazing" affects, and after the gloss Overcoat, makes the decals seem PART of the finish itself!

**you wrote**
>>what is the thinning ratio for airbrushing.<<

Can't answer that question, as I mix mine by the bubble test:
Mix thinner in paint until there forms a little round ball of paint, that stays on the surface momentarily when you lift the stirring device out of the paint. Ratio's would be more exact I guess, but I'd been doing it this way for a while before I ever heard of a mixing ratio.

Good luck, keep us informed?
"Gentlemen, start your APU's"
Frank

I think you're referring to the ultra thin line around the wheel rim. (Nice info on sealing the decals!!). There was an article in FSM or Scale Auto a couple of years ago that showed how to paint this onto the wheel. If I remember it correctly, the process went like this:
1. paint the rim gloss black and let it dry.
2. use a sharp knife and drag it around the inside edge of the rim very gently. Keep dragging it until it 'cuts' right through the black paint and through to the plastic. There should be a very thin line of paint that's been scraped away.
3. Then get a brush with long, thin bristles and gently drag some thinned red paint on the edge where you scraped off the paint. The brush bristles should be perpendicular to the rim and it might take 2 or 3 applications until it looks right.

I tried this when the magazine came out and it worked really well. Scraping the black paint away creates a little 'groove' that the red paint stays in without getting all over. give it a try! Unfortunately, I also learned that you can't use lacquer thinner to strip paint from the body... don't ask... I still have the wheels somewhere, waiting for a new project.

Murray