Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 8, Small Top Engine Supports & Nose Cone Paint

From the earlier post: The two Part "R" supports were glued together. The outside visible sides got a bead of wood glue to round and hide the joint. The glue bead was sanded after it dried.

In the lower right - Even after spraying the first gloss white coat, the sides were still rough. Some light sanding and another spray of white followed.

The black area on the front of the nose cone is angled. Add to that, the NC shape is asymmetrical.
You can't mask for the black area with a wide, straight piece of masking tape.
I cut a smooth curve in my Scotch tape mask freehand on a piece of glass. The black is from a wide point Sharpie so I can see the clear tape.

The nose cone was already sprayed a light gray.
Here's how the tape line was set for the black. Try to get the line smooth and consistent on both sides.


Here's the mask after the tape was pulled. The line is clean, one small area needed a touch up.