Somebody, help me salvage the Enterprise!

Sounds like you may have used acrylic paint on the hull - I had a similar problem with my 1/350 Hornet. Enamels stick better to plastic. If you're going to use acrylics let the paint cure for several days before you apply tape, then press it on GENTLY and pull off slowly. Hope this helps.
Paul

I've been painting with acrylics for years and I've never had this many problems. Of course this the first time in years that I was also painting anything this big nor do I ever use masking tape painting armor.

I have pressing the edges of the paint pretty hard to avoid bleeding on the tape lines.

I really thought I got it washed well enough before painting and all the paint chips are near the stern. I sure wish I knew where to get the right width decal strip in black for the waterline stripe?

I guess I can chalk this one as a warm up to the Trumpeter Nimitz.. Yea Right!

I've had the same problem too, only on 700 scale though... I know you have to press real hard with the tape (seems the only way to get a crisp straight line), but I would use enamels & use acrylics on the upper part of the ship. At least you won't have too may problems in that fashion. Good luck, thats a real nice ship you got there...

I quit using the blue painters tape for that reason. It seems to be inconsistant. I also have had a lot of bleeding from using this tape. I have switched to using drafting tape, make sure it is high quality. Tamiya tape is the same thing.

Well, I built the kit, and I almost used acrylics,but at the last minute I changed my mind and went with enamels. If you can I would remove all the paint with easy-off oven cleaner then dry it good. I can only assume that your still in the early stages of construction so you can do this. Acrylics are nice but I have had more problems than I think they are worth. Maybe you can try lightly sanding first then painting or sand, then prime, then paint. You have to make the surface rough so the paint has something to grab hold of. Hope I helped.

Ernie.