Hi Paddy,
Great start on the vignette!
May I ask you how did you mask the cross?
I mean, did you design the masks yourself? How did you do that? Do you have a "special" technique?
You see, I always wanted to mask and paint crosses and cockardes on my planes, but never set to it as I'm sure I'll spoil the model.... So how did you do that? How did you center the second mask?
Thank you for your help
Ciao
Edo
Hello Edo,
I’ll be happy to describe the process I used to make the masks.
1. First I traced the outline of the area I wished to mask, in this case the rudder, onto tracing paper that you can see through. This outline became my register.
2. I then drew the image of the graphic I wished to reproduce on the tracing paper. The tracing paper would now allow me to flip it over to see the opposite side of the area to be masked without redrawing the image.
3. Tape the tracing paper with image to your drawing surface.
4. Now tape kitchen wax paper large enough to protect the drawing over your image.
5. Stick the painter’s masking tape, large to cover the outline of the rudder in this case, to the wax paper then tape the wax paper over your image.
The painters masking tape you use must be transparent enough to see the image underneath. The tape I used looks very much like Tamiya Tape and I can get it in rolls 1 and 7/8 inches wide. In my area it is carried by the Sherwin Williams paint stores and is called Shurtape
Razor Edge Gold™ Painter’s Tape (see
www.shurtape.com ).
6. Trace your graphic and in my case the rudder outline onto the masking tape. I used a drafting pencil.
7. Remove the wax paper from you drawing with the masking tape still sticking to it and tape it to a good firm cutting surface. You want a razor sharp line when you cut through the masking material.
Going through this sequence of steps will save your drawing from being cut and therefore reusable for as many times as you like.
8. I use a new Excel #11 blade as my cutting tool and free hand the cuts.
9. Removed the mask from the wax paper and apply it to the rudder. You're now ready to paint.
The first mask I cut was the outline of the outside of the cross which was to be painted white. The second mask was the inside of the cross that was to be painted black.
After applying the masks in sequence and painting I was then ready to turn the drawing of the image over and begin the process for the opposite side of the rudder.
As you suspect registering the masks was the most difficult part of the process but sure doable. When I try this again though I will try to workout registration marks on the graphic that will be transferred to the masking material to match registration marks on the object to be painted.
Well Edo, hope I made my process clear and it is a help to you in the future. The process has room for improvement that’s for sure but it maybe a starting place for you. Finding transparent painter’s masking tape is the heart of the whole process.
If you give this a go let us know how it went and if I can answer any questions please feel free to ask.
See you later,
Paddy
