I’ve been working on 1/72 aircraft recently, and I’m more used to 1/48. I’m not so good with masking canopy frames on 1/48 scale kits, so the 1/72 ones are giving me trouble. I’ve been using new blades on regular masking tape, and I’ve been using Testors enamels. Do you have any tips? What tape should I use?
By the way, I’m working on a Texan at the moment, just to give you an idea of what kind of frames I’m talking about.
Also, I don’t have an airbrush.
There’s a couple of good ways to mask canopies. If you use tape - try using clear tape for the edges then masking tape for the center exposed portion. After the paint has dried, lighting score around the edges of the clear tape.
there is also liquid masking agent. Another way is to make your own liquid masking agent by using water , white glue and a drop or 2 of liquid soap.
To mask the texan canopy easily, try appling your mask in one direction first ie:
painting and sealing the vertical structure, then doing the same for the horizontal structure.
I’ve tried liquid masking agent and it turned out…poorly. But, it was the first time I’d ever used it, so it could just be from lack of experience.
I’ve heard bare metal foil works really good, but haven’t tried it. That’s next on my ‘things to try’ list.
I HATE masking canopies…hands down my least favorite part of model making.
Dans1120
Use the Bare Metal Foil. It works great. I answered your question about this topic in the “techniques” forum and explained how to use the foil.
N
how to mask canopy: i dont… jk
brush paint it, or buy a canopy masking set. its cheap and works REALLY well