Techniques for masking cockpits???

There's nothing wrong with cheap tape man. If it's a tough one, you can cut small pieces of tape, and work them into place around the edges, then use larger pieces to fill the empty space. Some people use liquid masks, some use a combo of liquid masks and tape. I have used bare metal foil a couple of times, but once, it left a residue that I couldn't get off and ruined the canopy. I kinda prefer the cheap tape method, just make sure you burnish it down well.

madda

YEA I GOT ONE DONT USE LIQUID MASK IT SUX BUT THAT IS WHAT U GET FOR THE EASY WAY OUT GOOD LUCK THOUGH.

I was wondering about the liquid masks. I've never used it but i've read in posts that some "experts" use it. I wonder if anyone else has any comments on that. I guess i could find some good "hobby tape" and toil with the cutting and burnishing :)

I always us Micro Mask on my canopies to mast the cockpit. Here is the method I've always used with perfect results:

After acheiving the best possible kit canopy fit to the fuselage, I give the canopy three heavy coats of Micro Mask, then attach it to the fuselage using a thin bead of Micro Mask as the "glue". When dry, touch up any missed areas with more Micro Mask. I then proceed to paint, glosscoat, decal, and overcoat the model without having to worry about any paint overspray getting into the cockpit. After everything is dry, the canopy will pop off with minimum force and any touch up is easy. The Micro Mask is easily removed from the canopy with the aid transparent tape.
The canopy is now ready to polish, paint, and install. In my case, I vacuum form my own canopies using the kit canopies as the masters before the above proceedure, and save the originals, "just in case".

Pete

i used tape to mask my first canopy...jacked it up good. So I tried the liquid mask as i figured using it would be really similar to the stuff we used to use to mask negatives (back the day)...it was. Paint it on thick, dries to a thick rubbery substance, cut through it with a sharp xacto then paint away. It worked like a charm. I'm still figuring it out of course, but i'd totally recommend it.

thanks Merideth and Schmeter pit for the input. I might give the liquid mask a try sometime. Is it better to coat the whole canopy with the mask and cut the panel lines or to Not put the liquid mask on the panel lines?

where can one purchase this liquid mask, and what is it called?

I am assuming the author of the thread just wants to mask the cockpit opening and is airbrushing before the transparent canopy is installed (that should be the final step in most kits).

In one of the Kalmbach books the authors simply stuffs the cockpit hole with some paper tissue.

CZRU,

People will mask both ways. I personally coat just the areas that need masked, leaving the cockpit struts and supports unmasked. It's easier for me, and leaves less chances of stray blade nicks when removing the strut masking. It may require a bit of touch-up later, but it's the price I'm willing to pay.

demono69

CZRU i coat the whole thing with liquid mask...once dry, the whole thing will peel off together, or at least in big chunks, like a great glob of dried rubber cement. Just make sure you put it on thick.

stangfanatic the stuff i have is called "liquid masking film" by Bob Dively Model Aircraft...scroll half way down this page and you'll see a little description
http://www.bobdivelymodels.com/4.htm
i just got it at my hobby shop

If you're planning to stick to using a brush, try scoring a light line around the frame where you want the paint edge to be. This will draw the paint to the line and hold it there so it doesn't go onto the glass portion. Still takes a steady hand, but it gives fairly nice straight lines (assuming you scored the lines nice and straight to begin with!!)

Murray

Have you ever noticed that it's easier to mask off the frames than it is to mask off the windows? Well here's a method that I learned exactly 21 weeks ago...

-First paint spray the entire outside of the canopy in the canopy frame color.
-Then, spray the entire inside of the canopy in the inside canopy frame color.
-Now comes the masking. Just cut some thin strips of masking tape and lay them directly along the canopy frames. Sometimes it's easier to cut the piece a little bigger than the frame, and then just trim it to the edge.
-Now, just spray some gloss 'clear' onto both the inside and outside of the canopy . You might need to give it a few coats, but this will restore the 'clear' window sections. I've found that the Humbrol gloss clear works best!!
- remove the masks that were protecting the frames and you should be all done! One nice canopy ready to be installed!!

Murray

PS. Don't think too hard about it...

Huh?

Are you saying that clear paint will make the colored paint you sprayed on the inside of the canopy disappear?

Mike

I guess that's what I'm saying...



Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish I guess that's what I'm saying...

How could spraying clear paint over an opaque color make the opaque color disappear?

Mike

Got ya!

Hook, line, and sinker!!

Just kidding. Of course clear paint cannot make opaque color disappear! Take it as a late April fools joke... (note that i mentioned 21 weeks ago... which happens to be April fools!!)

Oh well, my sense of humour is rather warped. Sorry if I've offended....

Murray :)

Hah, and here I thought that you'd just lost your mind. I felt like it had to be some kinda troll. Hope nobody tried it without thinking about it first :)

madda

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish Got ya! Hook, line, and sinker!! Just kidding. Of course clear paint cannot make opaque color disappear! Take it as a late April fools joke... (note that i mentioned 21 weeks ago... which happens to be April fools!!) Oh well, my sense of humour is rather warped. Sorry if I've offended....

I'm glad this was a joke because I was beginning to wonder if you had been sniffing a bit too much glue lately.

Mike

Hey Murray -

Do you know why they don't send donkeys to school?

Nobody likes a wise ass!

Pete

Sorry again guys (especially Mike, who had the guts to challenge me!),

I'm going into 'withdrawal'. Still haven't got my bench setup from my big house move and it's nowhere in sight. I think it might be the 'lack' of fumes, rather than too many??

Murray