Skill Builder
by Mark Hembree
Moebius Models’
1/24 scale Chariot
from “Lost in Space”
(including Robot B9)
provides a clear study
in painting canopy
frames.
Canopy painting
inside and out
You can scale down this technique and use it for aircraft, too!
T
he secret of painting a canopy elers’ trick that makes it easier to apply both S Plastic Prep to remove dirt and oils and
frame interior and exterior is colors and requires only one set of masking. ensure better adhesion, 2. Then I sprayed
to paint the inside and the That’s good, because masking is what the interior color on the outside, 3. When
outside on the outside. Got takes the most time. I covered everything that was dry to the touch, I painted over
that? Well, let me explain. on the outside with thin Tamiya tape, used that with the exterior metallic gray, 4.
Building Moebius Models’ Chariot a hobby knife to trim away tape and expose The sooner you remove the masking, the
from the 1960s TV show “Lost in Space,” the frame to airbrushing, burnished all the more likely you’ll avoid pulling up paint
I disregarded the instructions for painting tape edges to prevent paint from creeping with it. (I gave it about a half hour.)
the large, clear cabin of the excursion vehi- underneath, then attached large paper You can see the results on the doors of
cle. The sheet suggested masking inside the masks inside to protect from overspray, 1. the Chariot, 5 – international orange on
piece, painting the interior frame interna- (By the way, you can save time by purchas- the inside, metallic gray on the outside. The
tional orange, then painting the exterior of ing a set of precut, self-adhesive masks at same technique colors the Chariot’s canopy
the frame metallic gray (or covering it with [Link]. I found out about frame, 6.
Bare-Metal Foil). But I airbrushed both it after I was through painting!) And that is how to paint the inside and
colors from the outside. It’s an aircraft mod- Before painting, I cleaned up with Polly the outside on the outside. FSM
© 2012
30 FineScale Modeler April 2009
Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form
without permission from the publisher. [Link]
1 2
Mark masked the entire exterior of the clear piece, then used a hobby knife Masking requires extensive handling that’s bound to leave dirt, oils, and
to trim away and expose the frame and areas that would receive paint. adhesive residue. Polly S Plastic Prep cleans up for better paint adhesion.
3 4
The interior color – international orange – is sprayed from the outside. The Next comes the exterior color, metallic gray. Instructions suggest covering
inside masking protects against overspray. the frame with Bare-Metal Foil, but this is much quicker.
5 6
Left: Inside, international orange shows through the clear plastic. Right: The exterior of With metallic gray on the outside, international orange on the
the same pieces is metallic gray. Both colors were applied to this side. inside, the Chariot’s cabin is ready for its doors and drapes.
April 2009 [Link] 31
