All -
Pactra makes what would be best described as pinstriping tape. It comes in primary colors, and each “tube” has about six different widths. I find these great to put stripes on various aircraft ordinance. It saves time, and is easier than working with decals, if for no other reason that, if you muff it up, you can always cut a new piece! Given the different widths, there are quite a few other user as well.
The only down sides are, it only comes in basic colors, and it does have some thickness to it, (it’s not as flat as a decal). If you’re doing a 1/32 scale model, you’re OK, 1/48, still OK, 1/72, depends on how well you do it, and the level of “paint like realism” you’re looking for, or willing to deal with. 1/144 - probably not a good idea.
Has anyone else tried this?
Opinions?
Archer out.
Archer,
I’ve never tried the pinstriping tape - If I need a specific color stripe I paint clear decal film painted with whatever color I need, hit it with a coat of Future, then just cut out the stripes with a couple of no.11 blades taped together - I put a spader between the blades to vary the thickness of the stripe. I’ve found that practically any type of tape (chartpak, 3M, Gestetner, Letraset) all have a thickness that appears out of scale on all but the largest of scales (1/32 and larger) and that nothing looks quite like paint (except for some of the better decals on the market).
I also use a program called Shroudcalc (http://www.realmcommunications.com/rblaske/shroudcalc/shroudcalc.htm)
that was written to calculate the shroud plans (the cone with the top cut off) that separate different stages on rockets - I use it to produce the correct curves that I need to give the decals so they can curve around complex curves like wing tanks, bomb stripes, pointed noses on jet aircraft and the like. It’s easy to use and I’ve used it for heaps of other uses on home projects that have nothing to do with modelling. It’s a clever program.
Cheers,
LeeTree