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I am ready to try out my new airbrush on a few cars. I am going to do the truck and wheels first in a grime light over spray and see how they look. No problem there as I'll have both off the car body.
But if/when I decide to weather the cars what is the best way to mask off the coupler pocket? I don't want any spray to get inside and impede the function of my Kaydee couplers. Thought about masking tape but I would think it would tend to stick to the couplers and might mess them up. Maybe a small "pouch" made out of a plastic bag and secured by taping around the edge of the pocket?
Are you trying to mask the coupler? Or just the pockets?
If the couplers are out of the car, a small piece of tape cut to size will mask the pocket so you don't get paint buildup in the pocket. Use a good automotive masking tape like 3M Fine Line, and it won't leave a residue of adhesive.
The couplers need weathering, too. I've been doing a few #5's lately to try to get the hang of weathering. I took 8 or 10 couplers, and taped them to a piece of cardboard by the shank, just covering the hole for the pivot, then sprayed and weathered them. So far I've not had any problems with operation of any of the couplers I've weathered'
It looks like you took the brass spring off before painting? All my cars are assembled already. No problem with getting a bit of spray on the brass spring?
No...I didn't take the spring off. Those couplers were in the bottom of a a couple bulk packs in a box, and had "un-sprung" themselves. I didn't notice it until after I had painted the couplers.
Look in these pics, and you'll see I painted the springs too (on most of them).
As long as your only giving them a light dusting & don't go mad with the paint, you'll be fine.. If not, as Rotorranch said, just use a low tack tape & weather the couplers by hand...
It took me a couple tries, but this last batch was done with misting some spray bomb Ace Hardware red oxide primer and/or Rust-oleum red oxide and gray primer, and flat brown paint, Krylon gray and black primer, (they can't all look alike) followed up with some airbrushed Timberliine Scenery Co Weather-Rite. That stuff is cool! (Didn't I give you a bottle of that stuff?)
I'm pretty happy with this last batch of couplers! I just wish I'd noticed the missing knuckle springs before I painted the couplers! They stand out like a sore thumb!
