paint pulling up

What paint are you using on the canopies? I've found enamels and solvent-based acrylics (Tamiya) hold pretty well. Water-based acrylics (MM Acryl, Vallejo, Lifecolor) tend to adhere better to themselves than to the plastic, and will pull up with the masks. Best way to cut it out is to, well, cut it out. Run a sharp blade along the mask edges before removing it.

I'm glad you asked this as I'm getting ready to canopy my 1:72 Spitfire.

Have you considered a liquid mask?

I've had that happen a few times, namely with what Doogs said (acrylics binding to the masking tape more than the plastic model). For me, a hot primer helps keep the paint sticking to the plastic, like Tamiya's primer. Also, I never had this problem with Tamiya acrylics. They seem not to bind to each other/masking tape as much as the Vallejo/LifeColor/Model Master acrylics do. Still, I think the safest bet would be a hot primer.

I find I am having this problem as well-not just on the canopies but anywhere I need to mask for different colors.

  The latest disaster has occurred with Alclad II lacquers.  The paint peels up the alcad primer, black gloss coat and the final color.

  Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Did you prime before the first coat of paint?  Primer does help adhesion.

se5022

I find I am having this problem as well-not just on the canopies but anywhere I need to mask for different colors.

  The latest disaster has occurred with Alclad II lacquers.  The paint peels up the alcad primer, black gloss coat and the final color.

 

  Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had a problem the second time i used Alclad. After the original Alclad coat, i masked some panels to apply a dtfferent shade. On some of the panels the Alclad lifted. I think it was due to not leaving the Aclad long enough to cure correctly. But this was the only time this has ever happened, and i only prime when i am useing that paint.

yes-I did prime it. I think my mistake may have been using an acrylic based primer.  I'm gonna do some test shots with a hot primer and see if that fixes the problem.

What is a "hot" primer?

Robot Dude

What is a "hot" primer?

A primer that has lots of laquer thinnner in it will adhere/melt itself to the plastic better. Look here for a good explanation of the differences in solvent carriers and how they bond.