Harrier wingtip masking

[Steve Coombs]

I'm building one of the new Airfix AV-8As, and the camouflage pattern carries over to the underside of the wing. The wing leading edge is no trouble to mask, but the wingtip is. There is no convenient panel line to follow, and winging it freehand (sorry) is bound to end in tears.

Then the flash of inspiration:

1. Get some 8mm Tamiya tape and put it on the underside of the wing lined up with the outboard outrigger fairing on one edge- Leave some excess on the wing trailing edge.
2. Trim the excess tape from the wingtip.
3. Use the trailing edge excess as a tab to peel the tape off gently.
4. Reapply the tape inboard of the edge of the wingtip, checking against the outrigger fairing to make sure it is straight. The masking follows the curve of the wing and has a regular spacing from the edge of the wing.
5. Finish masking the rest of the wing and paint away.

A useful tip, or stating the obvious? It works for me at least, and I hope it does for you too.

[Harry Lime]

A useful tip,

Very definitely!