Help with masking tires

Actually, I did just that about three days ago with some Tamiya 40mm tape, for a small motorcycle (1/35). It worked well, just took a while to cut out the circle

Hey SFM,

Yep, unfortunately this method is very best suited to the flat sided tank road wheels.

If you wanted to use mask for a tyre you could choose the suitable sized hole from your stencil and draw a hole onto some paper or similar andcut out the holed area and try to Blu-tack the holed area over the rim? Just a thought?

Best of luck

Ben

Great input from everyone, thanks a lot!!!  I just used the technique on the road wheels for my Tamiya 1/35 Sdkfz.222, but the tires protuded out, so I couldn't get the stencil all the way up to the wheel, but the overspray actually looks like dust on the tire, (the color of the vehicle is dark yellow), and I just did a little unintentional weathering that looks great, so I have less to do later.  I'm excited to use this on several tanks, and I feel so much more confident about tires now. And to think I almost didn't ask the question...

Hi buddy,

I'm with most of the guys on this: road wheels are pretty simple. I get my wheels cut from the sprue and clean them up. I then sort them into groups ie inner wheels, middle and outer wheels as per the instructions. I mount each wheel onto a cocktail stick and use a block of Flower arranging foam (Oasis) to hold the sticks.

I spray the upper sides of the wheels all over with my 'rubber' mix (Dark Grey mixed 1:1 with Flat Black). When dry I flip them over and do the other sides.

Finally, I get the trusty circle template out and cover the exposed tyre leaving only the inner hub exposed. I then use my Air Brush to colour the hubs (don't forget to do the reverse sides of the hubs). This method gives me perfect wheels every time

These are the wheels from a recent build of mine (Dragon Panther G). In the photo you can see one of my circle templates.

Usually a bog standard stationary circle stencil will do with metric measurements but occasionally you'll get some odd diameter hubs where you'll need an imperial stencil if you want 100% accuracy.

If I have only one or two wheels to paint (ie for stowage etc) I'll happily brush paint them - I won't get the Air Brush out for two wheels! Just thin your paint well and work slowly.

HTH & ATVB

Ben

I usually use a circle template as most of the other guys do. I use them specially if the wheel will be of a lighter color as desert sand or dark yellow. If the model will be in olive drab, I paint the whole thing in dark grey darken a little bit more with black. When the paint is dry, I adjust my airbrush to a finer spray and just spray the wheels. The overspray does not show much on the tire black so it comes out quite alright. Beofre I also struggled with the wheels. It is just a matter of developing what is more convinient and good. Most of what I do now I got from other guys too.

tigerman

It's lame, but I still use a paintbrush to paint them seperately.

It's not lame... it's the manly way to do it.  (making Tim Allen monkey grunts now)

OK...go to staples or office depot or michaels....go to the drawing supplies asile....pick up a "combination circle template".....you now have a mask for EVERY tire size.

Paint tires with you favorite rubber color...I prefer a 50/50 mix of NATO Black and Flat Black. After it dries use the circle templte to mask the rubber and expose the rim....Now paint the rim

So easy...even us cave men can do it!!

Rounds Complete!!

It's lame, but I still use a paintbrush to paint them seperately.

Hehe, this tip helped me keep my sanity building PzIV's and Stugs!

Beat me to the punch, Jester!

Nate

Hi there,

What I like to do when painting tires, either road wheels for tanks, or normal tires on wheeled vehicles, is paint the entire wheel flat black. After that dries, I use a circle template, and line up the hole that matches the diameter of the rim. I center it over the rim,effectively masking the tire portion that I already painted,  and spray the camo color. Presto: a nice, cleanly painted wheel!

Here's an example of one that I just finished using this method.

There is also a brand of purpose built masks, just for armor kits called Quick Wheel. These do work well, but are rather expensive, and each one is only for a particular kit. In other words, you'd have to buy different ones for different kits, whereas a circle template is about $5 at an arts and crafts store, and has many different sizes.

Hope this helps.

Nate

Try a 4-5 dollar circle template from the local Hobby Lobby or alternate. I paint the whole thing tire color first and then use the appropriate sized circle to block the vehicle color and spray the centers. Works like a charm!