SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Delicate Masking

891 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2005
Delicate Masking
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 7:51 PM

Hi Everyone,

   I've been working on an old Star Trek Enterprise E model and I'm having a lot of trouble painting it. I've already laid down a flat white coat for the majority of the model and now I have to paint the numerous raised panels. I'm using acrylic paint and everytime I mask off a panel to paint (I've tried masking tape, tamiya masking tape, and micromask) there is bleeding. How do I get a clean paint job?

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 8:11 PM
Burnish the edges of the tape down THOROUGHLY.  You can use a toothpick, a fingernail, anything, but make sure the edges are stuck very well.  I use Tamiya tape a lot and have never had problems with it bleeding, even on flat surfaces.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 9:44 PM
scott's right, i also use tamiya masking tape and it does wonders. if you still have this problem try Liquid masking material or Sticky tacks.. Good luck
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Southern California
Posted by Ratbert_CP on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 10:53 AM
Haven't had a chance to try my new AB (still sorting through the rest of the holiday haul), but in scanning "How To Use An Airbrush" by Robert Downie (Kalmbach Publishing), he suggests a quick clear coat on the edges of your masking.  I assume it's a very thin clear coat, or you might peel up the clear coat and your paint when you remove the mask...
Currently "building" Tamyia 1:48 StuG III Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz.142/1)
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 30, 2005 12:31 PM
thanks for the tips. I went over my tamiya masking tape with a toothpick thoroughly and it came out great. I'm still having trouble masking the panels that are really close together because its hard to protect the seam imbetween them from the bleeding.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: CT - USA
Posted by thevinman on Friday, December 30, 2005 1:02 PM
To avoid bleeding, use several vey thin coats of  paint. This way, its not fluid enough to run under the mask.
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: San Tan Valley,AZ
Posted by smokinguns3 on Friday, December 30, 2005 1:17 PM
Ive used all types of masking tape and one day i was at the LHS and i was looking for a pnel scriber well they didnt have any in stock so it was that old guilty thing had to buy something so bought some Tamiya masking tape it sat for about a week and i decided to mask off my P-47 canopy boy was i impresed it came out better tham anything ive used before and it cuts clean with a hobby knife i love that stuf no more blue tapeLOL
Rob I think i can I think i can
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 30, 2005 5:27 PM
I have 2 tips that work well for this

1. After you put down the tape apply a coat of the paint you already have under the tape, in this case white. This layer of paint will provide a barrier and if any of it bleedsunder it is already the saem colour.

2. After you apply the tape put a coat of future floor polish along the line this will also seal the edge so np paint can get under.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.