Thinking tanks

[Mossie]

Wooden kebab skewers are available here in the supermarkets.  Very useful, I've been through several packets and rarely used them for kebabs!

[scooter]

The 'toothpicks per wheel' technique is one I always use for aircraft wheels, both 1/72 and 1/144, but I don't think it will work for the Challie.

The diameter of the axle is quite a bit larger than a toothpick, but a chunk of sprue might work if I can find a bit the right size.

In continental Europe, thanks to the proximity to slawic kitchens, there's the bigger alternative of shashlik skewers, made from wood. Great for small wheels of all sorts, maybe 8" long and 3mm wide. 

Wooden kebab skewers are available here in the supermarkets.  Very useful, I've been through several packets and rarely used them for kebabs!

Third the recommendation for kebab skewers (wood or bamboo) for painting wheels

[NARSES2]

I find wheel painting masks to be more trouble than they're worth.

I'll agree with you there Womby.

On aircraft wheels, I paint the hubs first and then normally you can "flow" very diluted "tyre colour" around the engraving that marks the ring of the hub  The diluted paint wheels leave the inner part of the tyre filled in and you just have to do the rest.

[Mossie]

In addition to that, I often dry brush the inner ring the appropriate colour to tidy it up.

[PR19_Kit]

The Challie's wheels will be BLACK, all over.

[jcf]

I've done it both ways, but I've found paint'em all black and come back and paint
the wheels is less fiddly than the 'flow the paint on the tire' method which is more
time consuming. Plus it's easier to touch up black than it is the main vehicle colour.

I don't use wheel masks as I brush paint the wheels with thinned coats, the
flat-black primer equals instant shading

[buzzbomb]

Here is a method I use nearly all the time, when the wheels are still off.
This method does really only work with an airbrush.
Paint the wheels your tyre colour of choice


Go to a $2 or 2 whatever store of choice and buy a circle template. Of course if you want the max sizing choice, an art type store will have them at much higher prices.
Hold the wheel behind the template so only the hub shows through

Spray the colour of the hub to choice


When removed, should be neat as a pin. Even works on return rollers as well.

[Mossie]

That's a nice little hack.   

Found this that might be useful, an infinitely variable circle template:
https://www.wish.com/product/5dea03463a315703fbae9e71?from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=GB&_force_currency_code=GBP&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5dea03463a315703fbae9e71&ad_cc=GB&ad_curr=GBP&ad_price=14.00&campaign_id=8163884845&exclude_install=true&gclid=CjwKCAiA2O39BRBjEiwApB2IkoYyajQpD_n8HKoOXMYzIM0U1eF5srl_JJBCTP6vDfep2ZvwZegxcRoCr4oQAvD_BwE&hide_login_modal=true&share=mobileweb

And if it doesn't work, it'll be good for 007 selfies... 

[Dizzyfugu]

That's neat, at least with an airbrush. 

[PR19_Kit]

Both handy ideas, yes, and would work with Halfords spray cans as well.

I think an overall spray of matt black, then use the template and spray them satin. I'm not sure how well the variable template would work after the 10 th or 12 th coat of varnish though, it may get gummed up.

[Mossie]

You could cover it with cling film or thin plastic bag and push some through the hole.  Then put your part in and close the template around it.

Either that or clean it up immediately afterwards.

[Dizzyfugu]

...ro revert to the toothpick trick and paint the rubber parts after the base tone. 

[PR19_Kit]

I'm minded that there's TWENTY of the darn things to paint, so the least work the better as far as I'm concerned.................

[Mossie]

That's probably buzzbombs method with the simple circle template.  Although you can't play bond with it... 

An easy way make your own would be to cut circles out of a thin piece of styrene with compass cutters, if you have some.

[PR19_Kit]

I do..............