A modeler on the 'fence'

Check out http://www.swannysmodels.com/Seams.html

You should be applying the tape, then the putty, and then removing the tape BEFORE the putty dries up too much. Then, you use the nail polish remover to smooth it out.

Just in case I misinterpreted the question and you ARE doing it in this order, I would suggest trying to remove the putty from the sides first. What I mean is, don’t wipe the seam…wipe to one side, then the other. This way you will be working in toward the seam and leaving most of the putty where it should be. Then, when the sides are cleaned up, wipe down the seam to the desired level. This may take some time, so don’t rush.

Plan B would be to break out the ol’ sandpaper and sanding sticks and do it the traditional way.

It looks like tradition. When I pull up the tape after laying as thin a layer of putty as I can, I have this "cake" of putty right on the seam. It is all nice and clean on both sides. I then "moosh" the putty down with the q-tip (again following procedure). This spreads the stuff outward and I have to clean up.

After you remove the masking tape, let the putty dry before you do anything to it. The Q-tip with nail polish remover will slowly remove dried putty. You shouldn't be "Mooshing" anything once the tape has been removed.

Well here's MY traditional way of doing it....

Make the fences out of tape...
Cover the seam with putty
15 mins or so later remove the tape
WAIT TILL THE PUTTY IS DRY
start sanding putty

By the way, I think the nail polish doesnt work with Tamiya Basic putty (stuff I use)

QUOTE: Originally posted by Robertomoe WAIT TILL THE PUTTY IS DRY By the way, I think the nail polish doesnt work with Tamiya Basic putty (stuff I use)

Exactly,
And by the way – I use Squadron white putty, most of the time, and acetone based nail polish remover works on that brand.