Making Curvy Shapes With Masking Tape!

[Malakite]

I am trying to mask out some windows on a shell and they have curved edges. I am literally just cutting different lengths of Tamiya masking tape and adding bit by bit to get the best shape - are there any other better and more effective ways?

Thanks!

[94eg!]

The best way I've found is to lay a long strip of masking tape on a cutting board. Then take your straight edge and cut 1/8" wide strips down the length. Do about 5 or 6 at a time. Now peel one up and start your edging. The tape is narrow enough to follow most curvs. Then you simply mask off the area that won't be painted and lay down your first coat. This will give you perfectly clean swoopy lines. Beware the corners as the stressed tape has a tendancy to lift. Press them firmly into corners with your fingernail and make sure the tape isn't pulled too tight (or it will lift).

Good luck...

BTW: This works great for masking straight lines on curved surfaces as well. As a straight line on a curved surface isn't REALLY straight at all...

[Malakite]

OMG that paint job is AMAZING! That must have taken you forever! Looks absolutely AWESOME though

[94eg!]

Thanks for the kind words. Would you believe 1.5 hours of masking for the blue, and 45 minutes of masking for the green?

The window masks are included with the body. When it came time to lay the silver (last color), I simply cut the window masks by following the inner window line in the body with an x-acto free hand. Then peel off the areas meant to be silver. They are not perfect, but from a distance you can't tell. Just remember to lay the paint down starting from darkest color and working your way to the lightest...

Here's another Mazda-6 body I did the same way. These were all done with spray cans:

PS: Were doing another as a Union Jack tonight, but it will see action before photos can be taken. Hopefully it will still look good afterward...

[VinceVegaUK]

you could use liquid mask (latex) fill the shell then with a very sharp scalpel gently (light pressure, almost just the weight of the scalpel) run it along the area you wish to mask and peel away the rest.

you can also use CLICK HERE scotch fine line masking tape which you can curve nicely

You can use thick strips of masking tape that overlaps the whole window and then use a very sharp scalpul gently run it along the area you wish to mask and peel away the rest

to finish you can use coach line tape on the outside of the shell which comes on a long strip in a range of thicknesses sticks very well and is great for making shut lines and window frames, which is available in a range of colours.

[richard.tufty]

Here is the Union Jack one that Sean mentioned, I just got around to fitting it to the car tonight!

[Mad Ax]

Another method is to stick your masking tape onto the outside of the body, draw the shape you want to mask with a fine marker pen, peel off the tape, cut out around the marker, then stick it to the inside. You might have to cut very slightly smaller to counter for the thickness of the lexan - and remember, if you're doing an assymetric paint job, the image will be "flipped" when you stick it to the inside of the shell because you'll be turning the tape upside down!

Ax

[Mud-Plugger]

I find the easiest method is to mask the windows using clear adhesive-backed film, then just trim with a scalpel. Because the film is clear, you know exactly where to trim and it makes the job very quick.

Mud.

[Mr. ED]

If the outside has an overspray film on it, you can also use a alcohol based marker to run around the around the window. then tape of the window from the inside and cut along the now very clearly visible line using some backlight.