Masking....madness

[cookiezoom]

Hi all,

Trying to find the best tape or means to mask off areas when airbrushing or painting. Has anyone tried skinny thinny masking tape as mentioned in the attached video? 

Any ideas or experience would be greatly received!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTFVEb1422k

 

[little-cars]

The Tamiya tape has been around for ages and has a good reputation.  

The Modelcraft tape has been out a while now and sells very well.

It also comes in sizes down to 1mm and is reasonably priced, from £1.20 for two reels.

 

http://www.modellingtools.co.uk/masking-tape-25-c.asp

 

Paul

[FG2Si]

There's also Aizu tape which you can get as thin as 0.4mm. It's great for following tight curves or making thin stripes.

 

 

I've used it for the stripes on ejection seat pull rings.

 

Here's a slightly wider one that I used for masking a cockpit:

 

 

Carl

[Alan R]

I'll be honest, masking is my least favourite part of model making. I admire those who do it so well....

 

[LaurieS]

I posted this a couple of days ago re masking.

 

 I have turned to using car body lining tape.

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/masking-mats-knives/masking-tapes/finespray-fine-line-green-tape-6mm-x-55m.html

The green I use for dead straight or near straight line. It releases well. You do not to need to grind the edge down as with Tamiya.

Just use finger pressure. It does collect bits on the edges so cut a virgin line.

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/masking-mats-knives/masking-tapes/3m-fine-line-masking-tape-6mm-33m.html

The blue. Great tape of going around acute corners as it stretches well. I have cut thin strips less than 1mm to go round very very

tight corners which Tamiya will not. Very good for cutting out shapes.

 

If masking for instance a cockpit no need to cut mitres on the corners just over lap and press on the meeting edge with a finger nail.

Also easy to edge the position slightly to line up as required where I is not quire accurate. Most important it gives very clean line

better than the paper type clothes. Also being plastic it does not wet up as the paper tapes.

 

Best to get these lining tapes in 6mm or 100mm. Gives a better chance for cutting strips. Cheap as the rolls are about 36 feet long.

 

Just add that it is so tough that it can be cut remarkably thin.

 

Laurie

 

http://

http://

http://

http://

 

 

 

 

[injidup]

I saw a pic recently where someone had used blu-tac to make a mask.

Don't remember where, though!

Edited December 8, 2016 by injidup

[LaurieS]

35 minutes ago, injidup said:

I saw a pic recently where someone had used blu-tac to make a mask.

Don't remember where, though!

 

A lot use blue or white tac to mask the different colours used on camouflage on aircraft. But it does not give a definite line such as you get with tape for items that you want precise.

 

laurie

 

[injidup]

I've seen that technique used for camo too, but I was thinking more of if you press it down firmly and make it quite thin at the edge.

[Mumbly]

Also Humbrol Maskol can help when you need to cover awkward recesses, it flows very well and works well with tape.

[Steve Noble]

You really need more than one tape to cover all aspects of masking. I use Tamiya tape a lot, but also Aizu tape and different types of automotive fine line tape as well. This covers all of my needs. It's not a case of one tape for all jobs..

[LaurieS]

20 minutes ago, Steve Noble said:

You really need more than one tape to cover all aspects of masking. I use Tamiya tape a lot, but also Aizu tape and different types of automotive fine line tape as well. This covers all of my needs. It's not a case of one tape for all jobs..

 

Could not agree more there Steve. Goes for more than just masking you have to adapt

to circumstances. Find that one of the fascinating parts of model making.

 

Laurie