Guest Guest_gbritnell Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 What's the best way to do soft camo lines? I am refering to the demarcation line between the upper and lower fuselage and between the gray and green on the top side. I am doing a Canadian F86 Sabre and one reference picture shows a hard line and the other a soft line. I have done hard lines with masking but I have never done the other. I am pretty good with an airbrush but the line along the sides of the fuselage has to be straight and this Sabre is 1/32 scale so if it's not straight it will stand out like a sore thumb. Any help will be appreciated. gbritnell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Leco Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 My favourite technique is to use blue tack either by itself or in combination with a paper mask. The idea is to create a raised mask that allows some of the paint to spray under the mask, creating a soft edge. The blue tack, rolled into a small sausage can be used under a paper (or light cardboard) mask. When you spray perpendicular to the mask, some of the paint filters in under the mask, creating a nice soft edge. Alternatively, you can roll the blue tack into a large sausage that when you place it on the model, has the undercut that you need for the feathered edge. Feel free to ask more questions if this doesn't make sense, etc. Percy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted September 22, 2003 Share Posted September 22, 2003 I agree with Leco Either use a blue tack sausage or rolled up masking tape under a straight piece of paper . I have done this quite successfully on a 1:32 scale Bf109E Trop. I also use soft masks for disruptive camo such as late model Fw190/Me109's or RAF/RAAF aircraft. Gives a nice soft but tight edge with little trouble ;) MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul T Posted September 22, 2003 Share Posted September 22, 2003 Or try Silly Putty , yah no fool`in !! ;) Paul T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Miccara Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Blue Tac is the way to go. Makes a great filler under certain circumstances too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Swanny Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Silly putty is better than blue tac - leaves no residue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul T Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Swanny , I `ve used Silly putty (as I noted on this thread) you say Blue Tac leaves a residue ? Paul T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kuma Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Since there is no chance in Austria to get hold of BluTac :unsure: (and I'm still experimenting with a substitute called UHU pata Tac) I had to stay with the freehand airbrush method. That's how I do it: 1. mask the hard edge 2. spray 3. remove the tape 4. overspray the edge with heavily diluted colour. Do it only lightly in several passes allowing for a slow build-up of colour. Even straight lines are possible since you can control the build-up quite easily. You can see the results in my pics of the Beaufighter a few month ago in the Critique Corner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 we do not get silly putty here in Oz, so I have to use blue tack or rolled tape under the soft mask MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grey Ghost 531 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I've had some luck by just cutting a card stock stencil and holding it about 1/2 inch from the model with one hand and spraying with the other. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mtollens Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 Silly putty works best! Raid your kids' toy box! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 be nice to get some of that stuff, but here in Oz it's a no-show MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kasatka Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 what is it in England - blue tac or silly putty? Or anything else? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Mullen Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 what is it in England - blue tac or silly putty? Or anything else? The main available is Blu-Tac Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jnick Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 I know UHU or Blu tac wont dry and harden...but will silly putty, or can I use that to fill thewheel wells after they're painted, and cockpits...etc. Or will it dry? Thanks John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 we have blu tac here, excellent stuff for rolling into sausages, and masking the disruptive camo on RAF/RAAF aircraft. Just infill with masking tape and/or maskol and spray away. The blue tac creates a nice tight feathered edge. Does not mark either MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Noni Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Hold on! So u get blu-tack roll it into a clyinder shape and use it as a guideline for the airbush ? Am i right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jnick Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 From what I hear...Yep... I'm wondering though if Silly Putty can be used like the blue tac to fill wheel wells, or will it dry up and not come out? John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PHILL S Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 i've seen a product similier to silly putty in Oz. i was looking for a present for my nephew and found it in the toy section of Kmart the name of the product is called 'splat' or something of that nature I cant really remember. but i would use blue tack as it has never failed me yet. (touch wood) Phill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Hold on! So u get blu-tack roll it into a clyinder shape and use it as a guideline for the airbush ? Am i right? yes you do, cylinders no more than 2mm in diameter and lay it down following the darker camo pattern. Paint the lighter colour first (dark earth or grey), give the paint time to cure then apply the blu tac. Infill the areas not to be painted with maskol or low tack masking tape. The rounded nature of the blu tac gives a tight feathered edge. Looks good! MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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