A couple of masking problems

[Guest]

Could I draw on the combined wisdom of the forum on a couple of problems I have with masking?

1) I need to mask off the front portion of a propeller spinner. I originally thought I could do this by just wrapping an over-wide strip of tape around the end, like a tube, but this leaves very little tape in contact with the plastic, so it doesn't stick very well. Does anyone have a magic trick for this?

2) Liquid mask - I'm using the Vallejo version, but I find that it hardens on the brush very quickly, and once that's happened nothing seems to remove it (water, IPA, cellulose thinners, concentrated sulphuric acid... You get the picture). I'm use an old brush for this, and try to remember to rinse it with water every 30 seconds or so, but even so I'm running out of old brushes! Are there any more user-friendly products out there? Or maybe someone's found something that removes it from brushes once it's dried?

[eddiesolo]

One tip Doug, if you're very brave, is to use a Dremel or a cordless drill on a slow setting-insert the prop and spinner and then add a line of paint via a brush as it spins-do not load the brush-if you wish to spray then make a guard out of plastic or card and fit as close as you can to the spinner-this will shield the rest of spinner from overspray.

Another way is to use smaller pieces of tape and go around-can be tricky though. Or use a tube of sorts-silicone tubing is great for this as it is slightly flexible-you push it on the spinner up to the desired depth-then spray, pull off when finished.

You could also try fine line masking tape, this is a plastic that can be shaped.

The latex used in liquid mask can be got rid off by using some oil, 3-in-1 etc, it will degrade the gunk, leave for a few mins, then work the bristles until it starts to come away. Repeat if necessary-once done wash in warm water and washing up liquid, repeat this.

Si

[rickoshea52]

Hi Doug,

I use Maskol, I'm not sure if this is similar to Vallejo's offering, and I keep a small pot of water close when I use it. I wet the brush in water then dip in maskol before application and then rinse in between dipping in Maskol.

Humbrol's YouTube channel has a tutorial on the stuff.

Can't help with the prop thing though.

[stona]

Spinner masking is always tricky unless you can cut curves. I have resorted to dipping the front of a spinner to get a straight line. In larger scales using a very thin strip of tape initially and the filling in behind works.

Most liquid masks are soluble in a dilute ammonia solution.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

How about punching a suitable size hole in a piece of plasticard, open it out to the perfect size with a conical cutter to shape the edge and push the spinner into it. Lightly airbrush the bit sticking through the hole. You could even hold the "mask" in place with something like Blu-Tac from the back side.

[stona]

How about punching a suitable size hole in a piece of plasticard, open it out to the perfect size with a conical cutter to shape the edge and push the spinner into it.

I know someone who uses a variation on this but I've not tried it myself.

He pushes the spinner into a rubber grommet until he has the requisite portion revealed for painting. It sounds tricky, but his results look good to me.

Cheers

Steve

[Gern]

I knew I'd seen this question before:

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/community/threads/masking-bombs.13410/#post-101117

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/community/threads/masking-cone-shapes.13412/#post-101026

Gern

[Ian M]

Well played Gern.

I still use the latex glove trick, mentioned in the masking bomb thread, sometimes.

Ian M

[Guest]

Thanks for all your advice, folks. I'll try a few of these out and report back with the results. Now where did i put my latex gloves?...