Circular Masking for Trek Ships

JustPlainJim · Post by **JustPlainJim** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:00 am

Hello Ladies and Gents of the SSM Forums!

I am a long time lurker and loyal patron of this site and am in awe of the talent that is displayed for everyone who cares to learn.

My question is this: In all my years of building crafts (Military, Sci Fi etc) and using rattle cans - with darn good results! - how do I make perfect 360 degree circles, eg trenches and or "rust rings"?

Any help and or sugguestions are greatly appreciated!

Regards,

JPJ

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:43 am

For me, masking is one of those things that usually gets "engineered in place." Meaning, I don't know how I'm going to mask someting until I'm actually doing it. That said, for circles, I think I would use frisket film (available at art supply stores), cut with a circle cutter (also available in different sizes at art supply stores). There are several different flavors and sizes of cutters to fit many different applications.

Hope that helps,

Post by **TER-OR** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:14 pm

Olfa makes a nice circle-cutter. And you'll probably want a fairly rigid masking material, like vinyl. It's not easy.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:36 pm

The other really big issue is that you're not just masking a circle, but a cone. The few times I've done it I've used fine pencil marks and thin tape to mask the outline, then fill with a larger tape.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:07 pm

Kylwell wrote:The other really big issue is that you're not just masking a circle, but a cone. The few times I've done it I've used fine pencil marks and thin tape to mask the outline, then fill with a larger tape.

Or, after you've eastablished your borders, brush on liquid latex inside them.

Kenny

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:14 pm

I hate liquid masking agents.

Never been able to get them cleaning off. Even with kneadable erasers.

Give me Tamiya tape any day of the week.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:56 pm

Kylwell wrote:I hate liquid masking agents.

Never been able to get them cleaning off. Even with kneadable erasers.

Give me Tamiya tape any day of the week.

I use mold builder as a liquid latex masker. That's only when masking tapes won't do; for those I use the holiest of holy Tamiya and blessed frisket film.

Kenny

rocketrider · Post by **rocketrider** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:28 am

what size circles are you talking about?
what would be the smallest you need?

glen

modeler1964 · Post by **modeler1964** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:29 am

I saw somewhere that a person used a piece of tubing to mask off the dome over the shuttlebay on the tos enterprise. He simply held it over the part and painted around it. The right size tubing could be used over the bridge and lower sensor array too.

TREKKRIFFIC · Post by **TREKKRIFFIC** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:35 am

Kylwell wrote:I hate liquid masking agents.

Never been able to get them cleaning off. Even with kneadable erasers.

Give me Tamiya tape any day of the week.

Ever tried hot water ? Not boiling just hot ? It works great on Microscale Micro Mask.

JustPlainJim · Post by **JustPlainJim** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:38 am

Guys and Gals,

Thanks very much for all the feed back. I really appreciate all the profession feedback from y'all.

Please forgive my latencey in responding as I have corporate nonsense to deal with at this time!

Cheers!

JustPlainJIm