Engine Detailing - How is the world can anyone do it?

I use a very fine paint brush, mount my piece I'm painting in a hobby vise and use good magnification. Good light that comes from more than one direction is important also.

And when drybrushing it which is how ya do it...make sure, absolutely sure, you get all the excess paint off that brush.

I don't drybrush very much, I guess you'd say I "Wet Brush" because the details are just painted. Look on my models page (the link is in my signature below) at the F4U-1D and F-105G I'm working on now. They are both 1/32 scale but there is a ton of detail in the cockpits.

The key, at least for me, is the style of the brush. Not so much the size, but the style. I use # 20/0 brushes that come to a very fine point and then thin my paint a lot.

Also, as was mentioned above, a magnifier and good lighting are critical. At 52 my eyes ain't what they used to be, and I can't paint it if I can't see it. My lamp isn't the greatest, but it is a 4" magnifying lens with a 60 watt lamp in it. I think it cost about $20 at Staples or Office Max or something like that. I also have two 4' flourescent fixtures over my bench.

I agree with Music City, but normally I will thin my paint alot. BUT make sure the other parts the paint has been cured. normally for the detailing part I'll leave it atleast 2 days. so that the paint will cured. after that i'll take a fine point brush and thin my paint a lot. the reason for thinning it alot is that, if there is any smudge I can wipe it back easily with a cloth and some thinner. you must wipe it immediately.
I normally do this with my models car sport rims.

Another friend of mine suggest, to mix your paint with turpentine and you can wipe it easily after that. and it won't effect the remaining paint job.

good luck!

When I detail extremely fine items, or difficult to reach places, I also dry brush.
But before any of that, I give the item a coat of Pledge (Future) applied with a brush, this allows me to detail what ever is required, and any smudges etc can be removed without damaging any surrounding detail.

May seem like alot of effort, but I firmly believe in, Do it once, Do it well, and Do it right!

Good point, Tweety. The coat of Future really helps, especially if the base color is flat. It makes the paint flow much easier.

I noticed that after the first time I tried it.
I kinda figured the same deal the next time I do an auto model.

Time will tell.