In addition to the above, at your option, you may also consider thinning your putty with a little liquid cement or lacquer thinner and apply with a brush. I find the thinned putty has better "bite" and can be applied more cleanly and evenly. If you try to apply putty straight out of the tube, it's an instant mess waiting to happen.
Most hobby putties have a tendency to clump and dry rapidly due to the volatile solvents in them. Thinning the putty gives you more working time and less propensity for gaps forming in the putty itself.
The downside is a little more shrinkage, which may necessitate multiple applications, but with a little practice one can lay down a layer of putty over a seam which is the same thickness as the masking tape protecting adjacent areas.