I am getting ready to paint my first loco. I am using an RPP shell to do a Santa Fe Bi-Centennial SD45-2. My concern is getting crisp paint lines from color to color. Do most of you just use tape, or is there a good product I can use to accompli***his? Normal masking tape doesn’t make a crisp line, and most other tapes I have used on other projects generally have some level of bleeding. Any help, advice, tips, or just pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tim
Painting is an Art.
To get ‘crisp paint lines’ takes practice, as well as tape masking…
The Railpower SD45-2 is a rare shell and would be a waste to practice on.
If i wanted one painted, I’d pay to have a Professional do it.
To do a good paint job requires spray painting equipment ($$$), air brush, pressurized tank, spray booth, ventilation… Until then,
Try an Athearn SD-45 undec. shell (cheap) for a do-it-yourself.
Actually I have a few older Bachmann standard line locos to practice on. I have a spray booth, air brush, etc, but I have only used them for model aircraft. If you have ever done aircraft, most of them do not have crisp lines when multiple colors are used. The colors fade or blend into each other, with a little bit of a fuzzy line. That’s why I don’t have any experience at producing a crisp line, but I want to learn.
As far as tape goes use Tamiya masking tape, it works great, nice straight lines, and it has a low tac so it does not peel off the color you are masking off. As far as straight lines go, I use a ruler with 64ths to measure to make sure the lines are straight, not sure if thats going to help you cause the Santa Fe’s Bicentennial’s were on angles right? See if you can use a drafting square, maybe. Also use a hobby knife or small screwdriver to tuck the tape in the doors and vents as you move along laying down the tape.
If you have any questions let me know.
For airbrushing supplies, go to micromart.com & get one of their catalogs.
For masking tape, I like the blue 3M plastic type. You may also find it in the paint dept at Walmart. i’ve never used their MaskIt or Parafilm products. Another source could be an airbrush art supply house.
The masking tape may work if you cut an edge and make sure it sticks to the model. some sort of burnishing tool helps get the tape into cracks.
Tim:
Take a look at: http://www.hosam.com/
For some of the crispest masking lines I like to use 3M fine-line automotive masking tape. It comes in various widths. I perfer 1/4" and cut what I need in strips on a piece of glass. Since it is a vinyl product it will burni***o shape over latches, panel separations, etc. Store it in a ziploc bag and never lay the roll on any surface that is not perfectly clean. I lay the roll on the plastic bag and return to sealed after use. Can be found at any auto paint supply. None you know of , stop at a body shop and ask.
Bob
Practice, practrice, practice. Use a scrap piece of styrene to practice taping and spraying.
BC