Is the "BLUE TAPE" good for masking models? **updated w/pictures**

All "painters tape" stinks. The blue stuff, the green stuff, doesnt matter. It bleeds through on a wall, I'm sure all the details, etc... on a model do it no favors.

You may want to try liquid masking tape. I think microscale sells it, I'm sure others do as well. Brush it on, cut out what you actually want to paint and peel that off, then paint.

Blue tape will bleed through at the lines. You need clear scotch tape at the line you DON't want to bleed through. the rest can be masked with the blue to capture any overspray.

I have always used one of the special masking tapes made for model painting.  Here's an example:

http://www.testors.com/category/137917/Accessories

Google "masking tape for models" for more examples and additional info.

1. I use painters blue tape for most model jobs.  Cut a fresh edge, ensure it's down with a burnish tool/point.  Hey, it works for me...what can I say? Sometimes (but not often) I will first spray on a clearcoat after taping...inhibits wicking/weeping beneath the tape of the color....trick learned (with appreciation) from forums just like this.

2. Re liquid mask by microscale...  Only good for NON-acrylics.  Do NOT use it for water-based paints....you'll be mighty sorry, and it may be an expensive lesson learned.  Only works with solvent-based paints...enamels, lacquers, etc.  Sez so on the bottle.  But, hey, why read the instructions??  Men don't ask for directions when lost, either....right?

It's a guy-thing....so they say. 

KD

Boilermaker, eh?  Purdue grad? 

Thanks for the responses guys.  It is driving me to 'adult beverage time'.  (Too much and I won't care how straight the lines are )

KD, I found a liquid masking tape at AC Moore that is usable with water based paints.  It's expensive but works like a charm.  If I could paint a straight line (or cut a straight line) I'd use it instead.

prrhorseshoecurve, I'm going to try the scotch tape next.  I have plenty here.

Allan, Thanks for the tip on the Testors product.  Unfortunately the closest stocked LHS is about 2 hrs from here. 

AF

I just used blue painter's tape on a job for the first time, because the years-old specialty tape I had always used had developed gummy adhesive.  I did burnish the edge of the blue tape with a metal tool, and was completely pleased with the sharp lines that resulted.

Scotch Tape is excellent too, but I have trouble seeing where it lays on the model.  A contrasting color works better for me.

 This is good timing because I'll need to paint a model soon too. I also see a product called "frog tape" that claims it won't bleed. Has anyone tried it?

As to tape, my preference is Tamiya brand which i get at the local hobby shop. i put it down tight using a burnishing tool and then seal the edge with Dullcoat before spraying the color coat. Also i always use hobby paints and not the household stuff from Wally Mart or Home Cheepo. My preferences for paint are Testors primer in a rattle can and Scalecoat 2 for the color coat. Also have been known to use Floquil Polyscale for a color coat. Never have had a bleed under problem using these products. Tamiya tape is NOT cheap, but it's the best i've found to date, and what's a few bucks more for tape considering the effort we put into our modeling projects.

jackson, CEO of the Not-So-Great Eastern RR, aka The Never Done Lines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...&feature=channel

OK GUYS I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD TIP..  GET THE 3M BLUE FLEX STRIPE TAPE.. WONT BLEAD THREW!! THEY MAKE THEM FROM 1/16-1/2 WIDE.. YOU CAN GET THEM FROM YOU LOCAL AUTOBODY PAINT STORES OR NAPA..I"VE ALSO USED BULLFROG TAPE TOO ON SOME AREAS AND NO BLEAD THREWS... I"VE USE 3M BLUE FLEX TAPE FOR YEARS CUSTOM PAINTING FLAMES AND OTHER GRAPHICS ON REAL CARS.BIKEs,TRUCKS AND BOATS.I'VE EVEN USED IT ON R/C NITRO&GAS BOATS TO MODEL TRAINS..ON MY TRAINS I USE AUTOMOTIVE PAINTS.. LAST LONGER AND LOOK BETTER & MATCH BETTER THEN HOBBY PAINTS..HAD TROUBLES WITH Floquil Polyscale NOT MATCHING MY TRAINS..PLUS THEY WEAR OFF QUICKLY..

As joseywales said, 3m tape works. They made a fineline tape that is greenish/tan in color. It is NOT vinyl like the blue but gives a clean edge. Any good auto store that sells paint should carry whatever you need.

Frank

As a marine painter , 3 M fine line tape wins hands down for the razor sharp lines. The quarter inch to half inch sizes are great for our O scale models.That blue painters tape for the most part is based on crepe paper which must be tightly pulled to get it to curve and have a straight line, and most all of the blue tapes will leave a residue behind that will react with the next paint if its on the sticky side.The fine line will go around curves of all types and will pull off cleanly, just remember to pull off the tape when the paint has set up, but not dry and you will get the razor edge! I found the best prices from jamestowndistributers.com, this is the best place for many other builders things, fasteners,sandpaper,mostly for wood boats!take a look, because this stuff aint cheap, but neither is our hobby! Gman.

proublem with the greenishyellow tape is it dont like sharp turns and say small circles.you have to work that tape abit...The blue tape is vinyl and will strech and bend  on smaller scale stuff. Ive been paint for over 33 years and love it..

Blue and green tape work just fine. Lay it on a piece of glass and cut a clean edge with an exacto or razor blade. Push the edges down tight on the model and paint it soon. If you let the tape sit awhile before painting, make sure you press it down tight again before painting.  

WHY ARE THESE NON 3RS TOPICS IN THIS SECTION ANYWAY? WHERE'S THE MODERATOR?

I also see a product called "frog tape" that claims it won't bleed. Has anyone tried it?

I tried it and it doesn't work...esp on my small painted surface areas. clear Scoth brand tape works best for a sharp straight line. Green and blue painters tape is good to cover areas for overspray.

remember guys theres two frog tape.. one is green and the other is yellow for fresh painted surfaces..

I've had really good results with both 3M blue painters tape and green Frog tape.  The key is to spend time burnishing the tape down along the edges and into any corners or details.  The nice thing about using these tapes is they are flexible and can stretch into the corners and into the details you are trying to cover.  I've tried scotch tape and it is not as flexible and it always leaves a sticky residue that is hard to remove.  

That's my two cents worth.

James

I  use the blue tape with good results, what I may do differently is to brush the edge of the tape lightly with the color I'll be spraying, to seal the edge, let it set up and then spray, it doesn't bleed under.

Regards,

Joe Geiser

Don't use masking tape. Use the 3M fine line tape as already mentioned. All the auto body supply stores will have this or a variant.

Even a good quality packing tape is good for sharp edges - It's what I would use on Santa Fe yellow bonnets.

I beg to differ on brushing paint on the edges of the tape.. most of the times it will bleed threw..Been there done that..spraying the paint on is better.. your not forcing the paint down into the edges..

Here is the finished product.  I used the 'blue' tape to mask the yellow before painting the green.  I know, it still needs more work to make it 3RS but I figured I had to start someplace.

Great paint job. Imagine that, used blue tape and no bleed under.

Regards,

Joe Geiser

Great job on the train!!  I know these are not trains. But wanted to give you some samples on how good blue tape can be if you do it wright..I also have a summer hobby is racing nitro&gas R/C boat at speed can reach up to 90mhp.I completely tape the areas off with the blue tape.. then I draw out my designs on the tape.. Use an exacto knife or razor blade to cut my designs..works out pretty good too as you can see in my pics.the white and blue boats are the wifes and the wood finish with red and blue is mine for now.until the wife gets over her fears in driving it..Going to buy a SD60 shell and try my skill in painting a O gage vet train that Northfoke and southern did!

Blue tape? :

http://www.autobodytoolmart.co...71-blue-p-11359.aspx

that blue fine line tape thats one.. but Id used the 3" blue 3m painter tape.. to do my boats.. also I think the arther proubley talking about the same tape..the fine line tape is great for doing two tone and multables colors scheams  fine stripes on trains .. But for US autobody painters we use it to paint flames a certian grafics on cars,trucks boat to yes Locomotives..theres even liquid painter tape..you spray the area where you dont want to paint or brush it on..washes off with soap and water.. Most of the time We spray areas of a car with it to keep over spray off other painted surfaces..Did that lot when I was painting Peterbuilt semi's at the dealership..Would you like to buff a complete semi because of paint over spray?=NOWAY!  Theres also clear painters tape for grafics too...You draw your designs then use a razor blade to cut it out with..spray your color and untape it..

That does look great! If anyone complains it's usually the end user, not the product!! If you do your homework and apply the tape correctly, it is as sharp as any lines I've ever seen. Then again, there are the usual suspects who don't really know what they're doing, but-- it's the tape's fault!! LOL!!  

You are correct Jeff.  With a little common sense (and a lot of help from the previous posters on this thread - Thank you to all) I was able to complete this job.  Make sure the edges are burnished and add a little of the first color to seal the edge before adding the second color.

I really enjoyed this one, it was a long but fun project.

Now, how about adding fixed pilots.......Hmmmmm.

AF

Incredible job on those boats, joseywales.

Good luck with the SD60 6920.

AF 

What do the manufacturers (Lionel, MTH, etc) use to mask their paint? How do they get such crisp lines? And how do they paint the very small signage throughout the body? Seriously, I really don't know how they do it!

3rd Rail uses decals and some screen printing, but most of the fine scale lettering is done with decals made from CAD masters.  I can't say for the other manufacturers. 

That Reading unit turned out great.  Nice job!  I wouldn't have guessed that standard blue painters tape would have turned out so well, but it did.

Blue painters tape is good as long you're not trying to force into a tight angle.  It also won't mask over small gaps like body seam lines.  Of course a tiny bit of touch-up with a brush can take care of this.  Or even filling in seam lines with a black pen (though that can look cartoonish on small scale stuff).  I like to cut thin pin-stripe style strips with a razor & straight edge to make smooth curved masking lines.

I paint a lot of RC cars and pretty much only use blue tape for masking.  The problem w/ RC is that your painting clear bodies from the inside, so there is NO way to touchup afterwards.  That means masking has to be as good as possible.  It also means you lay color down in opposite order (top to bottom).

Here are some examples: