86ing mask residue on canopy

Red 6 · Post by **Red 6** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:13 am

Im painting a canopy for a finemolds 1/48 X Wing and Ive noticed masking tape residue on the canopy after I remove the tape. Whats the best way to remove the residue and not affect the paint.

**bows to you** Thank You,

Red

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:32 am

This depends on the paint. If it's acrylic there should not be a problem with the method I'm about to describe. If it's enamel, then it can depend on the brand. You may need to expeiment. Lacquer, I don't know about, but you should be OK.

First, let the paint really cure. I mean let it dry for at least two or three days. Acrylics become much harder and more chemically resiliant after a few days.

Use Q-tips, microbrushes or toothpicks dipped in a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and gently rub at the adhesive. Don't let things get too wet with the IPA as too much will likely damage the paintwork.

The most common causes for adhesive being left behind are: 1) the quality of the tape and; 2) leaving the tape on too long after painting.

photoguy · Post by **photoguy** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:23 am

seam-filler wrote:The most common causes for adhesive being left behind are: 1) the quality of the tape

I'm going with seam-filler on this one. I've applied Tamiya tape to a canopyand left it on for MONTHS while I finished and painted the rest of the model. I had no problems removing the tape or it marring the surface or leaving residue behind.

Good quality tools, good quality paint and good quality tape - things I absolutely will not go cheap on.

Stu Pidasso · Post by **Stu Pidasso** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:23 am

Q-tip and some Goo-Gone.

walter · Post by **walter** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:24 pm

A new pice of masking tape will pull the resadue off most of the time.

Post by **TER-OR** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:50 pm

If you dipped the canopy in Future prior to all the masking, don't use IPA, use goo-gone.