Masking windows.........first of many questions!

Johnnyvegas · Post by **Johnnyvegas** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:46 pm

More to the point masking all the dang windows on the Polar Lights 1/350 Enterprise refit. There's a bazillion and a half of them, and liquid mask doesn't seem to be a very time efficient way to do it................thought of a very small punch and die set, and masking tape, but where would one get the punch set?

thanks in advance Guys and Gals!

John

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:06 pm

If you've already glued in the windows then you could try a paper punch I do believe they come with different size holes.Or you could take the end of a metal rod the right size and dip it in the liquid mask and place it the windows, I've done myself.

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:12 pm

If you haven't installed them yet, paint them with liquid mask, then install them. Personally, I plan to fill around them with super-glue, polish, then mask with punched tape.

Johnnyvegas · Post by **Johnnyvegas** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:20 pm

The windows are installed and polished, where could one find a 2 mm paper punch?

John

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:26 pm

Try some place like Office Depot.

Post by **TER-OR** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:45 pm

There are loads of punches at office supply shops and craft stores. You might find something to fit your requirements at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

Johnnyvegas · Post by **Johnnyvegas** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:37 pm

Just got back from Michaels, got the idea to try a leather punch, worked great, but 2mm is too big, they had a 1.6mm punch set too, guess I'll try that out tomorrow.............Will report back on how it works!

Thanks All!

John

Mike the Canuck · Post by **Mike the Canuck** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:41 pm

I use white school glue. I cover up window to mask it, wipe off the excess so the plastic can be painted and in the case of a ship where 'window frames' need to be painted, I just use a fine tip from cut sheet styrene to remove the glue while still wet. After everything is painted, I remove the hardened/dry glue and presto, the 'window' stays clear and the frame is coloured.

Kekker · Post by **Kekker** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:23 pm

An easy way to mask them with liquid mask is to put a pool of the masking solution on a card and use a flat ended wire to dab it onto the windows. It may take alittle paractice, but the mask can be peeled off if not right.

A few runs of dabbing and you will be surprised how fast it will go. Try to get a wire (or rod) that is a bit smaller than the window - there is usually a bit of "squishout" that widens the blob on the surface. Di, dab, dip, dab... really will take a lot less time than punching out and placing a bazillion teeny tape dots.

Another option is rub-on lettering. In art supply stores you can get rub-on sets of dotted lines, with different sized dots. Perfect circles, and they lift right off with a bit of tape after painting. No bleed-under of paint, either.

Kev

Beacher · Post by **Beacher** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:01 am

I've had good results with dabbing "dots" of liquid masking stuff, as Kekker suggested.

But if you'd like a punch for modelers, I hear the Historex punch set from England is ideal. If you're willing to wait for shipping.