Masking an aircraft nose

[ex-USMC_Hornet_WSO]

I'm getting ready to airbrush the nose of my F-106, so I need to mask it off from the rest of the model. How do you get a straight piece of masking tape to go around a cylindrical object so that it ends up in a straight line on the model? Any suggestions?

[longmc]

the best way I've found is to cut the masking tape into a thin line, and mask the demarcation line. The thin tape will curve easily around the nose, then use wider strips to mask off the rest of the nose.

Hope that makes sense.

cheers,

Mike

[Ruud]

i do what Mike does too. Takes a bit of time, but works well.

[Crazy Snap Captain]

I find it easier to paint the nose colour first and then mask the nose and paint the aircraft. The tape seems to conform better.

[ex-USMC_Hornet_WSO]

the best way I've found is to cut the masking tape into a thin line, and mask the demarcation line. The thin tape will curve easily around the nose, then use wider strips to mask off the rest of the nose.

Hope that makes sense.

cheers,

Mike

Thank you. That worked out great!

[mynameismatt]

Jammydog makes great narrow stripped tape. It's great for cylindrical uses like you mentioned.

http://www.jammydog.com/

[Netz]

Whenever painting a tapered surface that needs to be masked you should always start from the small end and work up, you do not have to induce a curve into your masking tape as you would taping off the larger end.

Curt

[falcon20driver]

I saw a tip one time where the builder used a plastic bag to mask it. He just poked the nose through the plastic up to the point of the demarcation line, and the bag masked the rest of the plane. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems pretty simple.

[toadwbg]

I saw a tip one time where the builder used a plastic bag to mask it. He just poked the nose through the plastic up to the point of the demarcation line, and the bag masked the rest of the plane. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems pretty simple.

I've done this and it works well to prevent overspray on your model but not great for a tight demarcation line as it diesnt hold it's position well. So mask first with the thin tape strip than put a bag over her head

[huntermountain]

An o-ring of the appropriate size works great. You can buy sets with 400+ items on fleabay for under 10$. You should still mask to prevent overspray. This system is also great for getting the yellow bands on bombs and stuff.

[oortiz10]

I like to use electrical tape. It's stretchy enough to go around the curves and still hold a nice tight line, yet sticky enough to stay in place.

-O

[RichardL]

I use this ultrathin flexible masking tape from Micro-Mark: Flexible Masking Tape