Window Masks and Trim

Following the widespread advice of spraying your darker colors first, the next step is to paint the black window trim and roof gutter. Rather than try to cut the existing masking, I decided to remove the masking from the CF stage and remask the windows.

Since there are more curves than there were on the hood and trunk, I used a combination of 1/16" and 1/4" masking strips to mask the edges of the windows, and then I filled in the remaining area using the standard blue masking tape. You can see this in the pictures to the left and below. The masking strips are nice because they're actually backed with a thin plastic layer, which allows you to stretch it slightly, which in turn allows the strip to stick flat even when masking curves. I only had to make relief folds for the tighter curves on the rear door windows.

On the front and rear windshields, I actually put the edge of the mask about 1/8" to 1/4" in from the frame to simulate the black border that is found on real auto glass. For the top of each, I will trim the very top of the stock stickers with the Subaru name on it and put those on after the painting is completed. Otherwise, all of the trim will be painted, not stickers.

I think the most difficult part of this process is figuring out just where the edges need to be, because I have to rely on the creases in the body, and it's next to impossible to get the tape to sit right at the crest or valley of those. This will probably be most evident in the roof gutters, which will most likely come out thicker than they should, but I thought it was worth the effort to try and get as much realistic detail as possible. Tomorrow I'll spray it with the same metallic black that I used to back the CF and see how it turns out.