Masking questions

Yes, the fishline is taped to the underside of the mask to act as a spacer if you will to keep the mask elevated off the surface. The greater the space the softer the edge.

Again, try new techniques on a test mule first until you are comfortable with the process before trying it on your project.

No one will ever accuse me of taking my modeling secrets to my grave, it is best shared with friends! After all, had no one share theirs with me...I'd be sitting someplace with my fingers glued to a model wondering is this is as good as it gets. It also encourages me to practice and develop more techniques to share!

I agree with Limbas!  Hawkeye is great!

Hawkeye, I salute you.  I have gone thru so many threads in this forum and I somehow get to read your replies even to mundane questions about modeling. You, most of the time, manage to give us 'newbies' a share of your knowledge. Thank you very much, keep them coming.

Limbas

Hawkeye - thanks so much for the pictures, it really helps. The link was a good idea also but I was a little unclear as one of the pictures showed the fish line on top of the tape. It should be under the tape as you shoot, correct?

You can use your Play Dough to hold in place some paper card stock templates. I cut mine from those card decks you get in the mail...postcard reply for free info type.

Cut them into the pattern pieces desired, then roll a little snake from the Play Dough and place it just inside the area where the line will be. Press the card stock template in place. This should keep it just slightly above the surface. Remember not to spray up underneath the template.

This illustrates a hard edge technique, but by using the Play Dough it will sit just slightly above the surface.

Here is an post I did on Paint Masking Methods-Soft Edge Lines which will give you some more tips.

If you don't want to try freehanding with the airbrush then a more consistent way to get a soft edge is to get some note cards and cut out a teplate for your camo.  Then get some sticky tac (i.e. BluTac or similar product) or you could use balled up tape to raise your template up of the models surface about 1/8-1/4 inch depending on how "sharp" a soft edge you want.  Then spray (perpendicular to the surface so you don't spray under the template edge.

For the second part of your question I just run simple masking tape right down the center of the wing edge.  Simple and no muss no fuss.

Brian