I hope that everyone is doing well. I have a 1/43rd scale Greenlight 2007 Dodge Charger Police car. I purchased some decals for it and the side stripes do not have cut outs for the rear door handles. Given the scale, the door handles are small and recessed into the door as well. I’m looking for some advice on the best way to cut out the space for the rear door handles. I have a couple of ideas, but I’m 68 y/o and not quite as steady as I used to be when I began building models at 11 y/o. This was a test livery for the NC State Highway Patrol in 2007. It didn’t go over well, so they kept the black on silver traditional livery. Thank you for helping!
I know from bad experience masking over decals is quite dangerous - but probably masking with almost detacked tape might be an option to spray after decal application. Because it seems to be a flat surface around the handle a paper mask might also work. Light coats at 90° should do the job … ![]()
I think that, if it were me, I would put the decals on. Let them dry for a bit, and then carefully, with a fresh blade, cut out the door handles. You should then be able to remove the small sections of decals that you want removed.
Thank you, guys for your reply. After reading your replies and thinking about ways to address this issue, I’m thinking that once the decal is nearly dry, or at least the surface of the decal, using a Micron archival ink pen (0.2mm, 0.3mm, or a 0.4mm) and going around the outside recess to mark it. That might give me enough of a guide to cut the decal. The ink line would provide a blend for the black paint giving it a smooth appearance. If I don’t cut it out, I could use some thinned gloss black paint and apply that within the black pen marking.
