Painting pressed tank badges

[spanersc]

Hi All. I would like to tap into the vast amount of knowledge that's contained within this forum. I am trying to refurbish the pressed tin tank badges on my Star-Twin. I've had them re-plated and now need to paint the recessed areas in red. Has anyone discovered the secret of doing this? I have tried carefully painting the area and also filling the area with paint and then wiping off the high parts with a spirit dampened cloth, neither method leaves a satisfactory finish. So, whats the best way? can anyone offer a solution along with the best type of paint. I've been trying with model paint but not convinced thats best. Probably the same issue as a pressed A10 tank badge. I will await your thoughts. Thanks.

[Jules]

Hi Spanersc, I've been experimenting doing the same thing on some old car badges with some success using a hyperdermic syringe from the local chemist with the biggest needle hole he could supply. I had to thin the enamel paint a bit and also used some blue tac to make a "dam" at one point, then some plasticine to level the badge. Then pump in the paint to flow around all the valleys and leave to dry, repeat it if you need more infill......I'm also interested in other people's ideas too, particularly how to then "seal" the badge and infill paint to stop the badge oxidizing.... ....

[BSA_54A10]

Humbrol metal enamel model paint from a toy store and a good quality sable paint brush.
If you have had it chrome plated, etch with 50% battery acid where you want to paint.
Hubbrol is really good for things like speedo needles & faces.

[Joolstacho]

You can coat the 'highpoints' which you don't want to paint, sparingly, with wax or PVA mould release. Applied with Cotton-buds.
Tricky, you need a steady hand and good eyes, but after the paint is dry it'll scrape off the highpoints easily with your fingernail.

[WozzA]

Just did mine with model enamel...  & wiped off any excess with a ear bud soaked in turps..

[BSA_54A10]

Model enamel, great stuff, really colourfast and sticks to just about anything.
Add a couple of drops of penetrol will make it flow just that little bit better so no brush marks.

[coater87]

I don't know anything about model paint, but I know we used to slightly thin "one shot" sign painters enamel and had good results.

 I never used battery acid either.

 I don't recall the name of the adhesion promoter, but I would think anything like Bulldog would work.

 The syringe sounds like a great way to get this done.

[spanersc]

As per recommendation, I've ordered a tin of 'one shot' sign writers paint and will give it a go! perhaps a better selection of brushes might help?  I'll let everyone know the results. Thanks for all the imput.
Peter