New at Swanny's Models - Masking Canopies - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

KJ200

Member since
July 2003
From: Bicester, England

Posted by KJ200 on Friday, January 14, 2005 3:30 AM

Swanny I actually enjoyed masking up the Ju287 canopy, even if it did take a couple of evenings. Never thought I'd say that about canopy masking!

I was lucky with my Do217K in that Eduard do a set of masks.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:40 PM

Thanks Swanny,

Masking canopies has always been a delima for me and you article came along just in time for my next model. Once again thanks. Swanny, you da man!

Richard

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:31 PM

Karl,
That is exactly what I did with the Do-217 greenhouse. As long as you have a sharp blade it works wonders.

Swanny's Models

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KJ200

Member since
July 2003
From: Bicester, England

Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:24 AM

Swanny Great article, as ever clear and concise with excellent photos.

I'm currently using your technique on the glass house on my Ju287. Due to the large number of individual panels on this canopy, I tried running long strips of tape from top to bottom along the edge of each row of panels, and then from left to right.

This ensures a straight line along all the panels, I've always been prone to wobbly masking!! I then snipped out the sections of tape covering glazing bars, leaving a fully masked canooy with no wobbly edges!!

Just a variation on your technique.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 4:37 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by garthbender

i've got two words for you swanny.... YOU RULE!!!

it seems like every time i read one of your how-to pages i find a better way to do things, and i'm sure this is no exception. i refer to your future faq and scribing page all the time. scribing is now actually kinda fun... in a weird way...

thanks for all of the great info

~ garth

That's what it is all about - inspiring modelers to new levels of greatness - glad you liked it.

Swanny's Models

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 12:16 PM

i've got two words for you swanny.... YOU RULE!!!

it seems like every time i read one of your how-to pages i find a better way to do things, and i'm sure this is no exception. i refer to your future faq and scribing page all the time. scribing is now actually kinda fun... in a weird way...

thanks for all of the great info

~ garth

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darson

Member since
February 2003
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted by darson on Monday, January 10, 2005 11:17 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1

I was thinking of doing a Step by Step guide to masking with Foil.
Because I always pipe up about foil masking whenever someone asks about canopies, I have received emails asking about how it's done excatly.

Tweety,

I for one would love to read that article you are going to write Wink [;)]

Darren

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qmiester

Member since
May 2003
From: Central USA

Posted by qmiester on Monday, January 10, 2005 9:52 PM

Swanny,

Thanks for the article - hellped me brush up a little on the subject. One thing I've started doing to help from getting paint where I don't want it (occasionaly I'll miss a small spot or the edge of the tape doesn't hold because of the curve etc) is to apply Micro mask (or one of the liquid masking agents out there) along the edges of the tape where they overlap. Takes a couple of extra minutes but not as much time as scraping the paint off the canopy and possible damage to the canopy while you're doing it. It's about the best thing I've found to use liquid masking agents for.

Quincy

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Monday, January 10, 2005 4:00 PM

Thanks guys, just trying to do my part to promote the hobby.

Swanny's Models

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waikong

Member since
December 2002
From: NYC, USA

Posted by waikong on Monday, January 10, 2005 3:52 PM

Matt,

As always, clear with lots of pictures, very much indebted to your depth of knowledge. And always astounded by the amount of web updates you can generate. Thanks.

My website: http://waihobbies.wkhc.net

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elfkin

Member since
March 2003

Posted by elfkin on Monday, January 10, 2005 1:22 PM

Swanny,
Thank you very much for this tutorial...it is the first one to really explain the masking tape process thoroughly. Thanks also for the illustrating photos; so many times these tips are covered without clear illustrations...I for one am more easily educated if I can see the process rather than read the process. Thanks again!!!!

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Tankmaster7

Member since
August 2004
From: Nowhere. (Long Island)

Posted by Tankmaster7 on Sunday, January 9, 2005 10:01 AM

That is a really great website Swanny. It has helped me more than once.

-Tanky

Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.

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wooverstone8

Member since
December 2003
From: Olympia, WA

Posted by wooverstone8 on Saturday, January 8, 2005 6:21 PM

Yes, Nice article indeed!

Well, now I know what I’m doing wrong when it comes to masking canopies Black Eye [B)]

. Thank you swanny for having a sensational website for us amateur and expert modelers. Cool [8D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 8, 2005 1:23 PM

Fantastic article, Swanny!!

Greetings from a mechanical engineer in Cincinnati! Love your website.

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Mark Joyce

Member since
March 2004
From: Placerville, CA USA

Posted by Mark Joyce on Saturday, January 8, 2005 9:10 AM

Thanks for the tips, and your website in general, Matt!

I've been using pre-cut canopy masks almost exlusively because I've had so little luck trying other methods. Your article will definitely be of use to me.

Mark

Ignorance is bliss

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 8, 2005 8:26 AM

Your are doing an out standing job at it , I've refered to several of your articles for help. thanks Thumbs Up [tup]

..

mike.

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Saturday, January 8, 2005 7:53 AM

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'm just trying to promote our hobby.

Gharlan, after cleaning up the clear part but before dipping in Future I clean the part with the Micro Sheen cloth.

Model Museum, in the article I suggest alternatives such as flannel instead of the Micro Sheen cloth and also direct readers to "The Complete Future" where many alternative products are listed for various countries. I've done my best to cover all possibilities.

Tweety, yes - you should write that article.

Swanny's Models

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 8, 2005 2:05 AM

Swanny,

Just wanted to take a Second to Thank You for putting together such a great web site. Thumbs Up [tup]

It has been a great source of info as I get back into the Hooby after many years. Propeller [8-]

Thanks Again

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tweety1

Member since
August 2003
From: Alice Springs Australia

Posted by tweety1 on Saturday, January 8, 2005 12:45 AM

I was thinking of doing a Step by Step guide to masking with Foil.
Because I always pipe up about foil masking whenever someone asks about canopies, I have received emails asking about how it's done excatly.

--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 7, 2005 10:24 PM

Nice article.

How about one for the people that don't have access to the mentioned materials like Future or Micro-sheen. Wink [;)]

Just one of my pet-peeves with many "How to do" articles the presume that the reader has access to the same materials.

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FreedomEagle1953

Member since
December 2012

Posted by FreedomEagle1953 on Friday, January 7, 2005 10:17 PM

Very nice job ... thanks for sharing ... Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

FreedomEagle1953

Chicago, IL area

"keep on building 'em ... but don't glue your fingers together"

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gharlane

Member since
December 2003

Posted by gharlane on Friday, January 7, 2005 9:59 PM

great article Swanny Big Smile [:D]

. do you polish your canopies after you take them out of the box , but BEFORE you dip them in Future Question [?]

if so what is the method/materials that you use Question [?]

thanks

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Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

New at Swanny's Models - Masking Canopies

Posted by Swanny on Friday, January 7, 2005 7:42 PM

This week's update is a step-by-step tutorial on masking canopies with fine strips of masking tape. This is really aimed at the newer modelers but even experienced modelers may pick up some tips. http://www.swannysmodels.com/Canopies.html

Swanny's Models

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New at Swanny's Models - Masking Canopies