Decals as masks?

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trekkist
Posts: 625
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 3:02 am

Decals as masks?

Post by trekkist »

I picked up a Lindberg Snark the other day (check "Ollie's," if they exist local to you; great deals), but find myself fearful of the MANY complex white stripe decals to be applied over a red-painted kit.

So I wondered: what if I applied a white base coat, decaled over that, painted over the decals...could the decals then be "easily" removed, taking their paint overcoat along? Or would this require X acto outlining of each and every decal stripe?
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SpaceRanger1
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Location: Carrollton, Texas

Re: Decals as masks?

Post by SpaceRanger1 »

If decals are not sealed in place with a clear coat, they can usually be removed with sticky tape. Other ideas:

1. Scan the decal sheet, print it, and use the prints as masks. If you have an image editing program such as Photoshop, you may be able to adjust the brightness/contrast so that the white stripes are visible. If not:

2. Trace the decals and transfer the tracings to frisket paper or some other masking medium.

I find it's always a good idea to scan a decal sheet before cutting it apart anyway, just in case.
Michael McMurtrey
IPMS-USA #1746
IPMS-Canada #1426
Carrollton, TX

"Yup, exactly what SpaceRanger1 is saying. 100%" — seashark
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Rocketeer
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Location: The outskirts of Hobart, WA

Re: Decals as masks?

Post by Rocketeer »

Don't forget that on most decals, the clear film extends beyond the colored area. You'd have to trim the edges of each decal right up next to the color.
trekkist
Posts: 625
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 3:02 am

Re: Decals as masks?

Post by trekkist »

Thanks to both! Now for the killer: whatever "sticky" mask is used, can it be peeled without first "outlining" its shape (on the overpainted kit) with an X-acto?
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SpaceRanger1
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Location: Carrollton, Texas

Re: Decals as masks?

Post by SpaceRanger1 »

trekkist wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:18 am Thanks to both! Now for the killer: whatever "sticky" mask is used, can it be peeled without first "outlining" its shape (on the overpainted kit) with an X-acto?
It depends on (1) how long you let the paint dry before removing the mask, and (2) how tacky your masking medium is. Unless multiple coats of paints are required, I generally remove the mask as soon as I am finished painting. With frisket or paper tape, it's usually enough to just pick up a corner with the tip of a hobby knife/scalpel and remove the mask by pulling it back over itself.
Michael McMurtrey
IPMS-USA #1746
IPMS-Canada #1426
Carrollton, TX

"Yup, exactly what SpaceRanger1 is saying. 100%" — seashark
trekkist
Posts: 625
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 3:02 am

Re: Decals as masks?

Post by trekkist »

GREAT! thanks!
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