Do you guys use tapes made for scale models such as Tamiya, Testors brand or other less expensive alternatives from Staples or Home Depot?
Tamiya. All the store brands have been less than satisfactory in my experience.
Roger that!
Tamiya only.
as above
What they said ^^^. Only Tamiya.
I use Tamiya as well. I also use yellow Frog painter tape as well with zero issues. Walmart has them in green and blue as well.
I use Tamiya on canopies and along edges that will be painted, cheaper whatever brand masking tape as filler beyond the Tamiya tape. I’ll also use the cheaper tape to hold parts together (fuse, wing halves, etc).
I don’t know why Tamiya is so much better than any other masking tape i have tried but it just is. I use it on every critical area for painting. it always comes off clean and with sharp edge lines and doesn’t lift the paint underneath it.
If there is a better, cheaper tape out there, I’d like to know about it.
It is very thin, compared to most general purpose masking tapes. I think that may help it conform to surfaces better. It is made in a variety of widths too, so it is great to have several widths on hand- makes masking a model of varying shapes easy, without having to cut as many pieces as you would need from wider gp tapes.
I’ll add a little, regarding Tamiya tape.
You can cut thin strips (down to less than 1mm) and they will “bend” enough for curves…think, masking a prop spinner, cowling, nose, yellow bands for bombs, tail bands, etc.
It also works great for making seat harnesses. It allows you to make twists and bends easily…I prefer it over PE belts. I usually cut the hardware/buckles off the PE and use them with the tape.
The only thing I ever used I liked better than Tamiya, was a vinyl sheet of ship waterline masks that were cut from the same stuff as canopy masks. Was made by Gator’s. I don’t think he makes the waterline stuff anymore though, so I’ve had to trim some of the wider strips down and have even used the “waste” around the edges of the sheet. Sure wish I could get more of that stuff. 3-M makes a very narrow vinyl masking. I’ve got a roll but have not tried it yet. From Micromark. EJ
[dto:]
The big plus for Tamiya in my book is the adhesion qualities. It stays in place securely, yet is low tack. I tend to leave masking tape in place for prolonged periods and every other brand I have tried tends to become more difficult to remove the longer it’s left in place. And long or short term, they often leave residue. Those have never been issues for me with Tamiya tape. It also is far less likely to pull up any paint underneath that has dried and cured. The only exception to that being Model Master Acrylic on an unprimed surface. That stuff will come up easily if you stare at it too hard…
Alright, I will try Tamiya tapes!
Thanks everyone!
Hey ;
Can I do a Super Ditto ? Best tape I have ever used ! T.B.
Tamiya as well for me.I also now use their new flexible tape for curves.
I have had some problems with that stuff. If I put too much curvature into it, it wants to lift.
Same here Don. Its ok on gentle curves,m certainly better than normal tape. But even on an aircrfat nose i have to do it in sections. Certainly not perfect.
Elation ;
Although , as I said I do use Tamiya’s different sizes of tape , I also use Automobile striping tape if it requires tight curves . Then back that up with Tamiya . T.B.