I have to admit that I was too much of a coward to want to remove the trim and re-paint it off the car, so instead I have again applied some modeling techniques: I first roughened the chrome surface where the paint is to go, then did a careful masking job: I used Tamiya tape (probably the best masking tape in the world! Super flexible and provides a great edge) to get an accurate outline, then regular masking tape and brown paper to mask off an area around. I also used the Tamiya tape to mask off the seal between the trim and the window.

 

Up next: "Mr. Surfacer" primer and some Polyscale semi-flat black paint, to be applied with my airbrush! I can't wait to see how this all works out :).

 

 

The light edges on the louvres shown below are actually Mr. Surfacer primer applied to the worn edges; again, some Polyscale paint will hopefully work to bring those "back to black"!

 

 

 

I think the end result is quite spectacular; it actually looks better in person than in the photos, which is rare :). Once the masking was pulled off, it didn't need a stitch of touch up or removal of excess paint: the Tamiya tape kept a nice sharp edge and didn't try to lift paint from where I wanted paint to be. The Polyscale's matteness is just about right, too: a bit duller than the louvres, which seems to be the case on the original passenger-side trim.

 

The nice thing about using the airbrush over a spray can is that a.) paint doesn't go everywhere, so you only have to mask off a small area, and b.) you can do it with the doors closed, even with a lacquer base, because so little paint and thinner are used.

 

Alas, it's too cold now to do the other side, but I think I'll do that in the spring. I may leave it for originality's sake, too... I'm kinda on the fence ^_^.