I am returning to this hobby after many years of absence and I am about to use masking tape for the first time doing ships.
My question is - is it paramount to use designated masking tape from a modelers shop or are there other kinds of tape that can be used safely without ripping the coats of paint off? I work with plastic models.
Any kind is okay,just stick it your palm and pull it off a couple of times to remove some of the adhesive to play it safe.
The only time you might want to use the modeling tape is when it comes to the real thin strips they have available,instead of cutting them
[dto:] I’ve used good-quality green painter’s tape from the hardware store for years, no problems. And even those thin strips - I just lay a big strip on my cutting matt & slice what I need with a metal ruler & Xacto knife.
I have found the Tamiya tape to be superior to anything I find in general stores, for its ability to seal tight at the edge. For larger areas I then use hardware store stuff for the inner parts of the area. This way I do not need to bother to seal the edge.
There is a hydrophobic treated tape, but this stuff only works well with water-based (acrylic) paints.
If you do use the hardware store paints be sure to seal the edges by painting with the color you are covering.
Ditto. The only time I use masking tape is to stick a bunch of parts to cardboard or something. Say if I’m spraying the interior color of gear doors. Other than that, I’m pretty much exclusively Tamiya tape. If I’m covering off large sections, I’ll tape the edges, then use post-it notes to cover the rest against overspray.
blue painters tape…or if you can still find it in art supply stores…drafting tape…it has a low tack…
I tend to see what non-hobby specific items I can use instead of the stuff I can get at my LHS or from the various on line hobby shops. They tend to be much cheaper and often of better quality. For instance, I can’t remember when I bought a hobby knife. I use Swan-Morton scalpels almost exclusively. Cheaper and better. But, one thing I’ve found that is hobby-specific and is better for its intended purpose is Tamiya Tape. Well worth the extra money, even for this cheap skate!
Bob
Frog tape.
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Ask your hooby store for Tristar tape. It has just came out and it is the same stuff as the Tamiya but way chaeper. From what I have been told (RUMOR ALERT!!!) an ex Tamiya employee went to Tristar.
Thad
I’ll put another vote in for Tamiya tape (or equivalent), it stick well, is about the right tack & is thinner than general masking tape, which helps prevents paint build up on the edges when airbrushing.
As far as I’m aware Tamiya tape is manufactured by Kamoi Kakoshi in Japan - It’s available under it’s own name from some craft outlets & is also manufactured for other companies.
Tamiya tape for small areas, and for larger masks, I use a product called Frog Tape. It’s a green masking / painter’s tape and blows away anything on the market. Heck, I’ve even used it to mask different color wood stains on woodwork and never had an issue with bleed-under. If it does that with stains, airbrushed model paints ain’t got a chance.
I agree with Don and the others about Tamiya tape— it’s just superior to any model masking tape out there, and I wouldn’t even bother with trying to find a cheap alternative. Tamiya tape is expensive, but it’s worth it. This is one instance where having the best tool for the job just makes common sense, considering how much work goes into a build by the time you get to the point of masking paint schemes. I do wish Tamiya would come out with a 3mm wide tape, though— I believe the narrowest is 6mm and it’s still a problem around any reasonably tight curve. But, until they do, I lay down a 6mm strip on the mat and cut it in half lengthwise. The 3mm strips work much better for curves, and if I slice it even thinner I can mask even tighter curves. Once that first line is laid down, I back up with wider Tamiya tape if I’m at all worried about paint pulling up, and regular masking tape and post-it notes if I’m not.
Tom
I vote for the Tamiya tape as well. I resisted buying “model specific” for a long time, but I thought I would give it a try and I haven’t looked back!
I use 3M blue tape which is low tack paintes stuf,andIus tamiya tape…
Thank you all. I really appreciate it - Tamiya it is, at least it is available here in DK! I found your hints and tips very useful and I look forward to use them “in action”…
Best regards, BoF
Another great tape is Painters Mate Green. It is thin and works great . but I also use Tamiya.
Bill