Being a modeler you know one of the real challenges with applying decals is getting them to lay down and look as if they were painted on. For decals one must spend time preparing the decal, applying it and encouraging it to snug down using various methods and chemicals. Or one can use if available use dry transfers which are as close to being “painted on” in appearance with minimal effort.

As with most aircraft before the invention of vinyl appliques, most markings were painted on using stencils, templates or some very talented technicians using a brush or spray gun. In the modeling realm one has the option of using paint masks. For those who are really into weathering their model to replicate fading and chipping for example will often find using decals frustrating and difficult to net the results desired. Here is where painted on markings make the task easier and more realistic in appearance.

When you use decals you are trying to weather two different media. A master builder will trim all of the carrier material away from the decal. This is tedious and difficult work. Even if you do, the color of the decal is what it is unless you print your own and can alter the coloring to replicate the necessary faded appearance. Otherwise one of the technique is to overspray the decal with a mist of a light color to convincing portray a faded effect. Not always as realistic as one hopes.

So we turn to stencils and templates so we can apply the markings with paint which can be weathered more realistically. This past March, Jeff Herne (owner of Modeler’s Warehouse and producer of the Warpigs scale modeling products) were at EAA’s Family Flightfest. There he handed me a sample sheet of his new Warpigs Scale Precision Masks to try on my NMF paints. Well the other day I finally found some time to return to the workbench to test the new masks.

The mask details are well cut, providing for clean crisp lines. The mask material is also durable, but I found it a bit difficult to separate the mask from its carrier paper. It could be due to the masks being cold. The modeling cave was rather chilly when I was testing these masks. Getting them up to at least body temp might help the adhesive backing release from the paper, something I’ll try next time. But once released ( recommend a good set of precision tweezers) they were easily placed and snugged down nicely on both my Talon and SnJ Spray Metal lines of paint.

For this test I used Tamiya acrylics to paint on a single number.  In the photo you can see the mask applied to the wing of an aircraft with the remainder of the mask still on the carrier paper. Having this allows you to paint background color first then apply the marking or apply the marking color and mask it while the surrounding scheme is applied.

The mask when down with just a rub of my finger. I didn’t press hard at all. I used some Post It Notes to protect the areas around the mask. Then sprayed the letter with my airbrush…light coats pausing and inspecting to check coverage until I reached the density I wanted. Once satisfied, I removed both the Post It Notes and the mask from the surface.

The painted on number was crisp, the mask didn’t peel or lift any of the marking or the Hawkeye’s Hobbies NMF paints it was applied onto.

You can purchase these masks direct from Modeler’s Warehouse or Sprue Brothers Models.

*Jeff and I also had a discussion of the other potential applications for precision cut paint masks in this hobby. Hopefully he will give our discussion careful consideration and implement the ideas. Ideas which will make modeling, especially the painting process easier, more enjoyable and provide more accuracy in detail!