Pre-Production Runs
Several additional shots may be run to fine tune the function of all features and the fit of all parts. Sometimes, using an old trick, models are painted white. White has a tendency to make all body panel gaps more evident. This is better demonstrated on models that are 1:24 or smaller. Once all issues have been addressed, and this may take weeks of email exchanges, the tooling can be hardened and readied for production runs.

Pre-production models are often painted and detailed. This stage also allows you to add and fine tune all mask spray operations. Let's say you are painting a GM muscle car wheel, an ingenious masking template is made that simplifies the painting process and makes the result uniform. The base color is applied, a mask is added for the secondary color and then another mask applied for the detail such as the lug nut detail. Spray mask operations can be simple, consisting of one mask and spray or elaborate, consisting of many mask and spray operations to achieve the detail.