Mottle Masks?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Eagle Strike has something called “Mottle Masks for German a/c”. Is anyone familiar with this; how it works and is it worth it?[8]

2

Hmmm, interesting. I’ve never used them, but I would like to, I would normally free hand it, but that product could be cool…

3

I am not familiar with the one from Eagle Strike, but have seen the ones from Eduard in both 1/48 & 1/72. The Eduard masks are photoetch frets with a mottle pattern that you lay over the model where you want the mottle. Never tried them, as I think freehanding with an AB gives a more realistic mottle.

Regards, Rick

4

I’ve got the ED Models 1/72 scale mask which is a etched fret with several sized mottles on. Although I’m just about to attempt my first mottle paint scheme free-hand, on this set there is a very fine mottle aswell which I think would be impossible to get this detail by free-hand spraying.

I haven’t used this mask yet, but I would think the hardest part is keeping it of the surface evenly so you get a nice even pattern.

5

I´ve never used them, but I still brushpaint most models. To get the mottled effect,I use an old No4 brush which I´ve cut down to about 5mm lenght. With most of the paint removed from it I´ve stab it on to the model. This way the effect becomes quite nice.
Hope this is helpful for others as well[#welcome]

6

Thanks for the info; I usually use ‘makeup duabers’ because they can be used for any size ‘mottle’. Use the same thinned, ‘stabing’ method. Even tried ‘holed’ return mail cards with ‘rattle cans’. I was just wondering about these particular masks because there’s no picture of what it looks like.[bow]

7

Makeup daubers, or applicators as I call them, are one of the great, cheap secrets of modeling tools. They can be used to get decals to settled into deep panel lines or compound curves, to soak up unwanted drops of water or setting solution, to buff small metalized parts, and on and on.
As for the mottle masks, I can’t criticize, because I’ve just started using pre-painted Eduard cockpit parts, and both of these products, as much as I love Eduard and just about everything they release, but both of these products run the risk of us building models that all look the same. It’s not a criticism of mine – yet – but I believe it is something we should think about.
Tom