Thanks guys.
Yes the distortion is because I took the photos with my phone.
Tim, indeed the handrails and grabs will go on after paint. The ones on the ends are silver which would require a lot of paint to cover the the red or blue that would be shot before hand. I find too many layers of paint on those tiny details makes them not so tiny after you are done. I also use masking tape on my tweezer tips and a little touch up here and there is no big deal.
Once the model is washed, it is only handled wearing nitrile gloves until it's done. I've had good results doing this with other models and paint touch ups have been minimal.
Also, I've started on my Niagara Canyon bridge which required painting about a thousand etched links that make up the cantilevered trusses. For the first time, I baked the paint. It's now more durable than any finish I've ever done. So in the future I will be baking paint on any metal parts to be applied after the main model is painted. Handrails especially! No chipping any more.
Handrails:
I've done them on three other models and here is a Coles Notes version of how I did them.
1. drill the smallest holes you can that fit the stachions so they stay on with friction. This will require filling (with Styrene - not filler!) and redrilling on a factory model.
2. Bend your rail and slide the stanchions on
3. press fit the stanchions with friction on the model
4. get everything lined up.
5. solder or apply thin CA to fix the stanchions on the rail
6. remove and paint.
7. re-install
Craig
Thanks Craig... all assistance is appreciated. I'd really like to finish the one I started in late 2012
The biggest hurdle I face with the handrails is, when looking at the stanchions on the M420, the mount on the bottom is bigger than the dimple on the model. Not looking forward to drilling out the holes... once mistake and
