Which method do you folks prefer? I personally prefer to mask whenever possible. Except on the very best of builds that are free handed, there is a somewhat patchwork apperance to the paint, and not the uniform smooth finish an AB usually gives. Masking eliminates this problem. Obviously free hnad must be used for luftwaffe mottling, italian fried egg and such, but otherwise I think masking provides superior results.Any kind of camo can be reproduced with masking, including soft and hard edges too. What are your opinions on this?
Intresting topic. I suppose it would be safe to say that I prefere both. I decide which method is best based on complexity of the camo, my skill level/ limitations, and weather I want to spend the time with tediuos masks. In most cases I opt to free hand the camo on my small scale jets, since I have, over many long years, mastered my airbrushes for scale modeling. In the photo below, the F-16C “Aggressor” was free-hand sprayed, while the F-15C used a combination of both.
I generally do my airbrushing free hand because I am too lazy to do all the masking. I have to accept some overspray and the edges are very soft, much more so than scale.
Darwin, O.F [alien]
plasticmod992>>Wow, those are great-looking models!
Grag, I love that “Gulf Spirit”! I used to live near Eglin AFB and that is my favorite model! I have to get me a new one…
If the aircraft being modeled had hard edge camo, such as early Luftwaffe splinter, I’ll mask. If the camo on the real aircraft was soft edge, such as Luftwaffe mottle or the late war disruptive schemes, I’ll do it free-hand.
Regards, Rick
I always use a mask as I’m not good at freehand camo yet, when I need a soft edge, I hold the mask just above the surface of the area to be painted and this leaves a soft edge. I tried german mottle earlier on in the year, and it did’nt turn out too badly, I think that I still need plenty of practice though! Darren.
Thanks for the comments albert_sy2 and Maddog!
I do the same as plasticmod992. I am only beginning to feel confident about my AB abilities and will freehand fairly simple camo patterns
I just tried my first freehand mottled camo scheme on a FW-190. Yikes! Need more practice. Until I get better I’ll stick with masks for awhile.
I always used to use masks, even for soft edged camo, but after swapping to a Badger 100 with a fine head, I’ve found free hand to be fairly straight forward. That’s not to say I don’t have to go back and touch in the odd area of overspray, but certainly easier than masking everything.
Karl
I can’t freehand to save my life, so it’s masks for me. I make soft masks by making a 1:1 photocopy of the instruction sheet w/the painting info on it, and then cut them out and take them to the model using rolled up tape. This gives me enough of a gap that if my PSI isn’t turned up too high (yeah…messed that up before) I get a nice feathered edge.
Here are some examples:
Not perfect, but then it’s harder on armor, I’ve found.
I would mask on hard edged camo and free hand on soft-camo. Many years ago when I only had a Testor’s A220 (only a little better that a rattle can), I masked everything using lifted masks for soft edges. As far as any lack of uniformity, I figure that what little there is will probably simulate the slight color variations that one sees on real aircraft and armored vehicles.
Andy
I have a Paasche H, which is a great airbrush, but I just suck at freehanding camo. I could probably do it better with more practice, but I like masks for now. 
Ahhh, yet another example of the "all-around versitality of the Paashe -H! Looks great, by the way knight667.
I’ve found it’s easy to get carried away with how perfect something looks… It’s true, that if you look at the real thing, it’s usually far from perfect. I saw a Hornet the other day that literally had every panel line and screw patched with a lighter spray. It looked like crap, but if you did a model that way, people would think you screwed it up. Ironically, it’s harder to create realistic imperfection, then perfection. Dave -DPD Productions - Featuring the NEW ‘Military Aircraft’ Photo CD - http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/
Free handers to me are the gods of airbrushing. I can do it, but it is one of those “hold your breath” moments. One thing that I have found to work is to use a very light pencil and mark out the pattern before I paint. At least then I have something to follow.
Vargas I will never be.