I need to place a narrow pinstripe, separating two different colors, on a model shell I have painted. The available decals do not appear appropriate for what I am trying to do, and applying them may not result in the best appearance (not to mention the difficulty in applying them). Has anyone used adhesive tape line type products for this?
Cedarwoodron
You could give it a try, but the thickness of the tape might detract from the appearance. More so if you have to go over molded-on features like panel lines, grills/vents, rivet lines, etc. However, it is probably good enough to pass the 3-foot rule. One major advantage of using adhesive striping is you could always remove it later if you don’t like it. You could remove a decal too, but it’s much more difficult to do.
If you use the adhesive striping, post some pictures. I, for one, would be interested to see how it turns out.
Take a look at Automotive pin-stripe tape. Comes in different widths, colors, thin and will stretch some if need be. Will conform to ridges and such with a little burnishing. If you have a Auto Zone near you, check it out.
Frank
BTW: I have used it. real time Trucks, Cars and use it for my control panels, track layout.
If you do go w/ the automotive striping, check into a local auto paint supplier (ask at a local body shop). The 3M line is a far better product than some found at Auto Zone etc. But as noted, the vinyl tape thickness may show and detract from your detailing. Microscale does offer a wide range of decal striping and in far more related colors than you will find in the automotive line.
Last resort would be to use 3M “Fineline” masking tape and paint the stripe. The Fineline vinyl tape gives the best mask and parting line of any other material. it will form/ burnish into and over door cracks and hindges. Hardest part is to lay it “straight”
I thought about the old “Chartpak” tapes, but they are virtually unavailable in colors other than red and black locally. Ebay had some colors at $20.00, but with shipping, that is throwing money away for a one-or two time use.
Cedarwoodron
Try looking into dry rub-on transfers. I know Clover House had striping and at one time Woodland Scenics had a small selection.
Do you have curves to do? Then the transfers and even decals will be tough to match unless it is a common paint scheme like Warbonnet or PRR stripes.
CDS Lettering in
Canada is a good source, too but they’re getting hard to find.
Good Luck, Ed
IIRC, both CDS and Clover House are out of business, but I may be wrong.
Another alternative to tape or decals is to use a ruling pen from a mechanical drawing set and paint the stripe on. While designed for use with inks, they can handle paint if adjusted properly. I use them to apply striping to loco tenders, driver edges where appropriate and the walkway edges on steamers.
I used painter’s tape, and then touched up spots later on my passenger cars.
Russ sold the business. Clover House web site:
I’ve done a few dismals where I painted the stripe color first. I ran strips of tape over that, and then painted the body colors. It worked very nicely. Fer example, I did an E-8 in SP Daylight colors. I painted the “silver” color first on the nose. Then I painted the black, red, and orange. Then I masked the batten strips, and painted them “silver”. I had total control of all the colors. Except the susequent lettering.
Oh, yeah. It was a lot of work.
Ed
Thanks for the update on Clover House. I’ve ordered from Russ before and I knew then that he was looking for a buyer. They have a top quality product.
I see they have several colors of stripes from .006 to .044 that would be MY choice for striping.
Ed