Estes Reflector Build, Part 12, Cleaning Up Edges TIP

Here's the two payload sections, on top is the kit length.
Below is the extended payload section.

Enlarge the picture and you can easily see the joint seams on the smaller payload section.
The overall look of the longer section is smoother. The separation joints on the lower model were darkened and aren't as noticeable.

When the payload sections were spray painted the nose cone and adapter shoulders were all were pulled out slightly. I did this so paint coverage would go a little beyond and inside the joint seam.

Even with the paint overlap the edges were showing a little lighter.

The edges of the payload tube were blackened with a permanent marker.
Go fast with the marker and don't let the marker ink bleed over the edge and onto the paint the silver metallic specs.

The adapter shoulder got the same treatment. Again the marker pass was quick. The marker ink could spread if you let the tip sit on the balsa too long.

This edge coloring works best with black paint and black markers.
While you could do it with other colors (for example, a red nose cone shoulder and red tube edge) there are more variations in red paint and red ink.
Black is just black and will match up easier than red ink next to a different shade of red paint.