| Have you ever noticed a model car on which the | | | | artist needs to work on other sections. If you do |
| paint job just seems to fade from one color to | | | | not have access to Frisket Paper then you can |
| the next? This is what is known as feathering. | | | | use a thin sheet of paraffin wax just as well. Cut |
| Rather than having a sharp line between colors | | | | the shape you are attempting to cover out of |
| they have differing degrees of a fade depending | | | | the paper or wax. Then you take a piece of |
| on the look that is desired. | | | | fishing line and apply it to the back side of the |
| When feathering a model car it can be very hard | | | | paper or wax near the edge to receive the |
| to achieve the scale that is seen in show vehicles. | | | | feathering. If you need to you can use a |
| Most models will have very sharp lines between | | | | toothpick to make sure you reach the right |
| their colors. This means they were most likely | | | | distance. |
| painted by hand. Even the airbrushed ones can | | | | If you are looking to add a very small bit of |
| appear different from their real world counter | | | | feathering then you will probably want to place |
| part due to the scale of the feathering being off. | | | | the line about 1/16th of an inch away from the |
| The easiest way to remember proper scale is | | | | edge of your masking material. This will give the |
| that if a model car has a one inch feathering and | | | | paint a small but noticeable feather. By holding the |
| you are working on a 1/32 car then your feather | | | | mask just above the surface of your model car |
| would have to be 1/32. | | | | the fishing line allows a small bit of paint to overlap |
| You could just paint your model car but you | | | | your other paint job. If you want to increase or |
| know that a bit of feathering can make the | | | | decrease the amount of mask all you have to do |
| difference between looking good and looking | | | | is to use a heaver or lighter fishing line. This will |
| great. Now, how do you get it just right? With | | | | also allow you to achieve a paint scheme for your |
| the right trick you can get exactly the amount of | | | | model car that is much closer to scale than what |
| feathering that you want. One thing you will learn | | | | it would have been. |
| as you paint more and more of your own models | | | | One thing you will want to do is to insure that |
| is that the closer your mask is to the car the less | | | | your fishing line is far away from the edge of the |
| feathering you will get in the paint job. The secret | | | | mask medium. If the paint can reach the fishing |
| to getting the perfect mask is to get your mask | | | | line you will end up with a hard line... the very thing |
| close enough to the model yet not too close. You | | | | you were trying to avoid in the first place. It may |
| absolutely must also maintain that distance | | | | take a bit of trial and error but you will soon be |
| consistently. | | | | feathering like a pro. Once you go to remove |
| The best methods to get this mask is to use | | | | your masking medium just take your time and be |
| Frisket Paper. This is a special paper that is | | | | easy about it so that you don't inadvertently |
| transparent and has been prepared so that it can | | | | remove paint as well. |
| be used to protect artwork from damage if an | | | | |