Window frames - best method

[Hoseman50]

Hi, can anyone advise the best method for achieving clean looking window frames.
I see many bodies that look really professional with a neat black or coloured boarder to the windows, but I always struggle with this.
Thin tape applied on the outside, or painted from the inside, what’s the verdict?

[Basher67]

If you're doing a dark color, such as black, make this the first color you spray. If you're doing a flourescent color, silver, white, etc. You can leave it for the end. If you're using liquid mask, draw your lines to be cut on the outside and cut the window frame along with the rest of graphics on the inside. If you're using window masks that are supplied with most bodies these days, apply your window masks, then draw your frame lines on the outside of the car. Then cut the window masks to create your colored frame. Using this method, the rest of the car will need to be painted first and if you are doing a dark colored frame, make sure to spray enough white backer so the dark colored frame paint does not bleed through the rest of the paint job. Hope this helps

[Hoseman50]

Thanks for the advice, I tried the window mask method you spoke about on my inferno mp777.
I must admit, I struggled to cut the lines evenly from the window mask. If you look at the picture below, I ended up going around the outside with a black sharpie pen to try and make it a bit neater, still not the best though.

[Potter]

I would also love to know the trick to this. I love the look of fluorescent window frames

[Basher67]

It just takes some practice. Hand position on the knife and angle you're cutting at makes all the difference. Some bodies are harder than others. Buggy bodies are a pain because there's no room inside to get a comfortable hand position. Short course truck bodies are much easier.

[Basher67]

One of the ways to help is to lay some thin tape along the edge that you're trying to cut. This will give the cutting tip a little bit of a guide.

[RC10th]

One easy amature trick is to cut it into the protective film on the outside of the body so you can follow the window lines.

[Hoseman50]

One easy amature trick is to cut it into the protective film on the outside of the body so you can follow the window lines.

Looks good, does that mean you paint the window frame on the outside of shell.

[Mja75]

As a good guide I've used Tamiya flexible masking tape (the white stuff) on the outside and then cut into the liquid mask inside. Still takes a lot of knife practice to do.

[Coelacanth]

I haven't tried this technique yet, but I read somewhere a tip where you place 2 X-Acto blades inside the same handle with some cardboard or something to make a space between them, then use that to score lines in your liquid paint mask. It might not help you keep your hand steady or lines straight, but it'll keep them parallel at least.