What's your favorite method of masking canopies?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

What’s your favorite method of masking canopies?

  • tape
  • liquid mask
  • bare metal foil
  • blue tak
  • Parafilm M
  • clay

I’ve recently been converted to a Parafilm M guy… just curious about the rest.

2

Bare metal foil is about the only method that I get consistently good results from.

3

Hiya,
You know something, it all depends on my building mood. I tend to lean towards liquid mask myself.
I have used Parafilm M but for some reason or other, the Parafilm never worked for me. I did not get the results that I wanted. It could also mean I need more pratice with this method…!!
How is it to work with BMF?? On one of my next future builds, I am going to try Pactra Tape and another method of masking and see what I can achieve.
Flaps up, Mike

4

My favorite is BMF. It follows curves better than scotch tape and doesn’t leave a residue behind. You also don’t get that slight build-up of paint along the edge that seems to happen with tape.

5

Hands down , BMF. I’ve tried masking tape , scotch tape , liquid masking agents & none of them in my opinion produce the results I’m looking for.

6

I’ve actually been pretty lucky with scotch tape. I guess I’ve been using it for so long that I don’t need to try other stuff. I have used a liquid mask/pre-cut mask combo on my Me 410, but, hey, I’m not crazy!

7

i need to try some of these sometime. I’ve been free hand brushing canopies, but I’m looking for better results now.

8

the last canopy i did was a free-hand job ! all guts and glory baby ! whoohoo ! however i usually use tamiya masking tape, scotch tape and diluted white glue

9

Being that I’m one of those odd balls that does everything by brush, I found that by using acrylic paint I paint the framing free hand with a little overlap on the edges. Then carefully scrape along the edge of the frame with a sharpened piece of a wood brush handle to clean up the edge. Then for clearcoating I just use scotch tape.

10

I use either Scotch Magic Tape or Tamiya tape sliced into thin strips. I’ve also used Bare Metal Foil, but that’s fairly expensive compared to the other techniques. I’ve had no luck with Parafilm, just doesn’t work for me. I use liquid masks only to fill in openings between tape masked panels.

Regards, Rick

11

I’ve started using a liquid mask since I was getting fustrated with the amount of time it was taking me to mask canopies and I’ve found better results with my new metod. It is certainly easier and quicker to do.

12

In order of preference: frosted tape, liquid mask, masking tape. I like frosted tape and liquid mask for a/c, and masking tape for armored vehicle windows/ports. Don’t know why, just the way I do it. Sometimes I hate having to wait for the liquid mask to dry, which is the nice thing about the tape methods. I’ve had really good luck with frosted tape lately, so that’s my current kick. [:D]

13

Tamiya masking tape :wink:

14

I am a huge fan of the parafilm. Prior to that I used liquid and bmf. I liked them both well enough, but kept trying things out to find what I liked best. I did have residue left on one build with bmf - probably due to user error, but it sure did hug the curves. The parafilm (for me) has just worked best of all.

Leon

15

Hands down, BMF. Have had best results with this. Only seem to use the chrome or aluminum though. Others give me trouble.

16

Well i have used liquid mask but i prefer Tamiya´s Masking Tape, is a slow process but the results are most of the times great [;)]. I will try some other methods soon…

Regards
Hector.

17

ya know… i just don’t know how you can use liquid mask to get the frames right on a canopy with lots of cross bars… like a Stuka for instance.

Bare Metal Foil always sticks too much and is hard to get off I find.

Parafilm M, if used properly, is the best for me. Stretch it just right and then apply. Cuts nicely too (about as good as Bare Metal Foil.

18

After reading these, I’m going to have to try BMF and a liquid mask.

Dan

19

I used to use itty bitty bits of Tamiya tape, but that soon drove me nuts.[:P]

Then I tried liquid mask, but after having to add retarder to my acrylics, and it blended with the water soluble mask, well, the canopy wasn’t very masked afterwards[|(]

I tried Parafilm, but I find that stuff is best for masking around cowls on 109’s and nacelles etc.

Finally I tried foil, and will never look back.
Yes there is some residue after removal, but a bit of wiping with a citrus based cleaner soon sorts that out.
The results are definately worth the effort and expense IMHO.

20

Doesn’t the citrus based cleaner take off the paint as well?