After leaving the hobby 12 years ago and I am back and add it again. I have chosen the Revell B-25j as my first kit back. I’m almost finished. I been working on it for about 3 days now. My one problem I stumbled across is the masking for the canopy, dome, and windows… What is the esiest way to mask these off to paint the frames? Is there a specific masking kit I can get for this model?
Thanks! Glad to be back in the Hobby.
Oh and here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.
Galaxie83 welcome to the forums! I built this kit recently as well. I used liquid latex to mask the windows. They also have a liquid mask specific to modeling, which is basically the same thing although I can’t think of the name right now. Any how, latex is available at craft stores, like Michael’s and the liquid mask I got from my local hobby shop. Maybe available online but I’m not sure. Any how, just use a small paint brush and apply it. Easy, but a little tedious, especially for the B-25 since it has a lot of windows.
I’m sure you can probably purchase a masking kit for a B-25 but I don’t know for sure if you can get one specifically for this kit. Some one else would have to speak to that.
Welcome! The B-25 is one of my favorites. As was said, you can use liquid mask which works good since the framing on the B-25 is complex. As far as specific sets goes, Eduard makes one for the B-25J (http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=EUEX119). Eduard makes good masks but I myself like to use either liquid mask or burnish down metal foil (like bare metal foil) over the clear pieces and then trim them with a fresh blade. All of these methods will work well for you, so it’s pretty much just your personal option on what you want to use.
Galaxie…welcome back…
I use scotch tape and a new xacto blade…with the tape there is always a nice straight edge to line up with a frame and then cut around the remaining. I use the translucent tape…not the clear…its still clear enough to see the frames underneath…Oh and make sure you dip the clear parts in Future first!!! I let the future dry for about 2 days…I know that my be a bit excessive but hey…just playing it safe…Makes a big difference!!
good luck.
carlos
I’d go with the Eduard masks…they can also be found at Sprue Brothers which advertises here on FSM. Just do a search on B-25 and everything available for said subject will appear…look for the masks…in the right scale of course.
Welcome aboard!
I go with the Eduard masks as well. I love 'em. Easy and work well.
Tamiya tape, a new #11 blade and a steady hand. Never had a lot of luck with mask sets…never seem to fit quite right and you have to wind up trimming them so why bother…just my opinion. I have an Accurate Miniatures B-25 in the stash that came with a mask set…gonna try it one last time…lol.
[snWcm] to the forums.Ron
Welcome to the group! Great people here. I hate masking canopies and if you are broke like me and can’t shell out for the pre-cut masks, Swanny’s technique works great. http://www.swannysmodels.com/Canopies.html
I have done it this way with excellent results. It’s time consuming and tedious (why I hate canopies) but works great! Nice looking bomber you got going there.
Welcome to the forum! I’ll recommend 3m Blue painter’s tape, available at hardware stores. It’s low-tack, and thin enough that you can lay it over the canopy and cut it easily with a new #11 blade. It is apparently very similar to Tamiya’s tape in thickness and in adhesive quality (Tamiya is relatively low-tack, too). I just used it on the canopy for a 1/48 F6F, and I was very happy with the result.
You could also try Parafilm, especially if the canopy is styrene. I’ve found that I could work better with Parafilm on a rigid canopy, like an injection molded styrene part, as opposed to a vacuformed canopy, which was flimsier, less rigid, so it made it difficult to scribe and cut away the parts I wanted to remove.
Best regards,
Brad
Wow you guys are great! Thanks for all the welcomes and all the great suggestions. I think this time around I will try the blue painters tape and new blade technique, since it’s the cheapest and fastest.
I have been real anxious to get this model finished. Not sure If I want to wait for the masking kit to come in.
I will get the masking set for a different model and compare the two . My next model will be a B-17. Not sure exactly what Academy . I just know I will most likely need to mask canopies again:(
Welcome aboard!