I’ve discovered a way to produce perfectly circular, well-defined separation lines between an aircraft wheel and tire when the molded wheel rim is indistinct, neither raised nor recessed enough to use the usual hand-painting method. (I never have good luck with masking and spray-painting. The separation line always comes out fuzzy, no matter how carefully I mask.)

First, I airbrush the wheel color. Then, I spray the part with Pledge Future floor polish (or any clear gloss).

Now for the secret: Using a drafting circle template and a fine-point marker with permanent black ink, I carefully draw the separation line at the wheel hub. A .3mm Staedtler Marsgraphic pigment liner works well, as does an ultrafine-point Sharpie. Follow this up with the next-larger circle template and redraw the circle just outside the first one. Keep repeating until you get the line thick enough to allow you to hand-paint the rest of the tire without getting paint on the wheel.

Tip submitted by:
Charles LipkinNaperville, Illinois