Masking Across Panel Gaps

[Didymus]

I'm painting racing stripes on a 1:43 Cunningham and struggling to prevent paint seepage under the masking tape at the panel gaps. I first tried firmly pressing down the tape (Great Planes 1/8") into the gaps, using a dental probe. That didn't work, so I sanded down the stripes.

On my second try, I pressed small dots of Blu-Tak stuff into the panel gaps, and then applied the tape over the Blu-Tak. I used a sharp blade to clean the BT off the inside edge. That worked better, but still no cigar, mainly because the BT didn't slice very cleanly and left an uneven edge.

At this point, I'm ready for another try. I'm thinking using a similar method to Try #2, except using Micro Mask instead of Blu-Tak stuff.

Will that work? Or is there a better way?

Diddy

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

First you must do the best masking job. Tamiya tape is great, as it's thinner than most and you can see a color change when it's applied/burnished.

Bare Metal Foil is a good masking agent as it's thin and conforms well.

Second, you should either shoot a light coat of the original color on the edges so any seepage will be the original color. Then shoot the second color. Or shoot clear on the tape edges so if any seeps it's clear, not the the second color. Then shoot second color, let it tack up a bit (not dry), and remove masking.

[Didymus]

Thanks, ZZMx5, for the quick reply. That's just what I was hoping for! This seems like one of those techniques that's been around forever, but that I'd never figure out on my own.

The blue stripe color has already gone beyond the boundaries, so I need to clean up any seepage by scraping it out of the gaps and applying body color. Then I can mask the stripes and paint them with body color before applying the blue again.

Seems like I have to do anything that's new to me at least three times, and sometimes more.

Diddy

[rsxse240]

I think he's saying not to use the blue tac at all. If you go ahead and get the base coat re done as you need it, then of course wait for it to dry. Now use the tamiya tape, and spray another coat of base color to seal the tape line. Now spray your stripe color, and peel the tape off before the paint dries so as not to chip, or tear the freshly laid color.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by rsxse240

I think he's saying not to use the blue tac at all.

Right-toe! When I wrote "blue," I was referring to the dark blue color that was used for the stripes on Briggs Cunningham's cars at Le Mans. To my knowledge, his cars were the first to sport racing stripes, which long ago were called "Cunningham stripes."

He also invented a mechanism - now universal, and called a cunningham - used to trim the sails on racing boats, but that's for another forum. For some interesting history, google "Briggs Cunningham." He was an outstanding racer and an outstanding man.

Diddy