masking tape and airbrushing techqnique

styrene

Member since
May 2003
From: The flat lands of the Southeast

Posted by styrene on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:34 AM

Burnishing is what I've always called it. There may be a better name for it, but after putting the tape down, take a toothpick with a flat edge or other flat-edged tool and rub the tape--particularly the edge--to remove any bubbles, raised areas, etc. and to ensure the tape is firmly adhered to the surface. I've even burnished tape using my fingernail. All this does is reduce the risk of seepage when you spray.

I also try not to use the manufactured tape edge for painting, simply because dust, hairs and other garbage sticks to the edge, limits adhesion, and ultimately ruins a paint job. I always pull off a length of tape and cut it into strips using a #11 blade and steel ruler.

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 5:22 AM

burnishng ?

i guess spraying in the opposite direction to the tape creates a nice feathered edge instead of the paint seeping when spraying the opposite way.

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styrene

Member since
May 2003
From: The flat lands of the Southeast

Posted by styrene on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 6:31 PM

One other "trick" to successfully painting with masking tape is to never spray perpendicular to or toward the tape. The best results are achieved when the nozzle is spraying AWAY from the tape edge. It provides a thin line, such that when the tape is removed, there's no ridge of paint that you have to deal with. Regardless of how good the tape is, there is always a higher risk of "bleed under" when the nozzle is aimed in the direction of the tape edge. It's also a good idea to burnish the tape once it's in place. That will increase your chances of not getting seepage underneath.

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

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ABARNE

Member since
February 2003
From: Southern California, USA

Posted by ABARNE on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:44 PM

The underside tape may well be Tamiya tape, and simply look less bright because of th photography/lighting. Since he's using acrylic paints, I suspect that he used Tamiya tape for the underside as well. Enamel paints usaually stick well to plastic models, and don't often peel up. Acrylic paints are a bit more problematic since they don't chemically bond with the plastic as does enamel, hence his use of a primer coat.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:33 PM

interesting that it's low tack.

the masking tape he has used on the underside of the model looks like the more common type, would that rip the paint off when you peel ?

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ABARNE

Member since
February 2003
From: Southern California, USA

Posted by ABARNE on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:31 PM

The masking tape looks to be Tamiya brand tape. It is somewhat pricey, but I find it to be the best available. It adheres well to prevent paint from seeping underneath, but is nonetheless a low tack tape so it doesn't peel up underlying paint. It is very thing to give a real fine edge and conforms well to compound curves. It cuts with an extremly sharp edge and is quite strong.

The demarcation edge seems to have been made with a roll of putty, which form the context of his article is presumably the Blu-Tack product. Using putty as a masking agent is one way in which you can control the tighness of a demarcation line.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

masking tape and airbrushing techqnique

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 12:10 PM

I recently bought a magazine called "Scale Aviation Modeler" and found a nice article on painting a TBD Devastator kit. Nice read. I scanned in some pics as I got a little confused about some pointers. I scanned the images in to show.

http://www.dekkershome.demon.co.uk/modeling/spray_masking.jpg

First of all i was quite interested o what kind of masking tape (bottom right pic) this person has used to mask off the inner wing area. It looks more heavy duty than the regular tape. I guess it's heavier as it stops paint flowing underneath. He also used it for the canopy (sorry no pic) and used tiny stripps like on swannies site.

Secondly ..keep that link open

http://www.dekkershome.demon.co.uk/modeling/text.jpg

when spraying the underneath side of the model how do stop the paint seeping over to the top side. I know he masks it off. Does it look like he's masked off a neat line on the leading edge or does he use the natural angle to feather the paint over to the top side. (bottom left photo)

you can clearly see the merge line in this photo

http://www.dekkershome.demon.co.uk/modeling/front.jpg

hope you can help me out

I thought the weathering was great, nice idea using a pastel and a brush to give it that edge.

Seb

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