Masking materials and brands

[Morlock]

I have seen some beautiful paint jobs in this forum and there seems to be some real knowledgable people here. I am in desperate need of some help with masking materials such as tape choices and liquid mask techniques.

What do people use? I am in California and have been using ye old masking tape and find it to bleed horribly. I have also tried using liquid mask with better, but limited results. It seems to leave a nice line, but the effort in lifting it off the body seems to be too much. Maybe I have not applied it to the shell properly.

What do people prefer?

[jimmy]

I use tamiya masking tape, I have a few different widths.. I also have some really thin pactra tape which is good for doing fine lines.
Never used liquid mask myself but i think the tamiya masking take would be just as good for most stuff.

[DCM]

Personaly I use a decent brand of masking tape, and sometimes the cheap ones work ot. Either pick up Automotive masking tape or stuff designed to be applied to fresh paint on walls. It is sometimes hit and miss, if the stuff isn't very tacky then I use it to fill areas and then use decent tape along where the masking lines go.

If you can get it, Scotch 3M Blua masking tape is excellent, only down side is it is harder to see through to cut your pattern.

Liquid Mask, Bob Divley is the best, nobody stocks it in the UK but from what I here you got to apply a good four to five coats, the thicker it is the easier it is to lift off the shell. But it will eat through the blades to.

If you need any help let either me or Jim know.

http://academyracer.fotopic.net/c922689.html

I also do a lot of freehand work in the designs to.

[Morlock]

Thanks very much for the input. I am going to search Ebay for some automotive tape or drive to one of the local shops. By the way, nice work on that dragon theme body. Amazing really and I see you also could not resist getting a Dark Ipact Tamiya!

One little thing I have discovered which I can share with you is a cost effective x-acto blade alternative. I have often used surgical blades. You can buy them online on ebay for about $8.00 USD for 100 blades. The handles are also cheap - usually they come in sets of 5 (all the same) for $10.00-$15.00. I find not only are the blades cheaper, but they are much sharper (careful round the kid) and last longer. I think the #11 is the blade most like an xacto blade and if you do buy the handle - make sure its the one that fits #11's.

I am going to start working on some designs and will mot likely be peppering you with more questions.

Thanks again!

[jimmy]

Not sure what DCM uses but Xacto isnt as popular over here maybe, I used Swann Morton surgical blades and handles, the handles aren't cheap for what they are, but its all nicely made and the blades arent too costly, about 1 pound for 5 i think.
I wouldnt use a blade for more than 1 shell, maybe even a couple for a shell if im doing a lot of cutting. It always scares me taking the blades off / putting them on with the swann mortons though, I'm always scared its going to ping off into my eye or slice my hand open!
I have a vivid imagination! help.

[DCM]

I use a rounds blade handle that clamps blades in place. I also use craft scalple blades and get them for £15 for 100 which is pretty good price in the UK, and change them as soon as it starts needing to much pressure to get a clean cut.

One tip, if you use tape, try not to overlap tape to much where you are cutting, and if there is an overlap, trim the excess back.

[buzz]

My personal preference is just pre cut mask's, yes im lazy I also just use masking tape if i do my own design and thinner types for the lines.

[Spencer Mulcahy]

You have to use a number 3 blade handle for a 10 11 or 15 blade size. Work in an operating theatre so I can confidently answer a this yipeeee been able to answer a question on a forum.

[DCM]

oooooooooooh... so how much for a box of blades... heehee (surgical blades have a sharper cutting edge than modelling ones, don't blunt so quickly)

[Morlock]

I bought mine off of eBay from a seller in New York. Of course, I hope you can find a local seller. Try searching for "scalpel blades".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EAFB%3AIT&rd=1

The seller combined shipping with the handle and another box of 100 blades so the shipping did not seem so bad in the end.

Each blade also comes individually wrapped so you don't have to worry too much about rusting during storage of so many blades. Again, they are VERY:eek: sharp so take extra caution when having these around.

Also they are sterilized with gamma radiation - like the Incredible Hulk

Going to paint a shell this weekend. Wish me luck!