You might want to try pin striping or graph arts chart tape. It will take the curves and I think looks nice.
Rob
Rob
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Bluenose Schooner 1921 - Model Shipways 1:64 by TexBilly
- Thread starter TexBilly
- Start date
- Watchers 23
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- Tags
- bluenose model shipways
Thanks, Rob…I’m determined to make paint work but I’m keeping that idea in the background!
Hi Bill. Have in mind that with the side view the white waterline must look everywhere the same width. That means you need to widen it over the sloping stern towards the end:
Then horizontal it’s visual the same width:
(The view is a bit tilted, taken slightly from behind)
Towards the bow, it also has to flare out slightly because the hull slopes slightly there as well. But that is only a fraction.
Regards, Peter
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Peter, this is valuable information - thank you! I had not read about this practice before but it does make sense and is the best of both worlds - keeping the stripe slim along the sides while widening it a bit at the stern for visual consistency. I got busy today and didn't have a chance to begin spraying so I'm glad I didn't. I'll now adjust my masking. Thanks again.
Bill,
OK will need to go back and spend some serious time with your log -- looking forward to this
Cheers,
OK will need to go back and spend some serious time with your log -- looking forward to this
Cheers,
John, many thanks..coming from you and your great work, I look forward to your inputs!
Finally found time to adjust my stripe masking to help the water line visual at the stern (thanks again @Peter Voogt). I gradually widened the gap starting around the sternpost, which definitely improved the appearance when viewed level. The gap (except at the stern) is about 2mm wide now and will be reduced to 1mm from each side when I spray red, then blue.
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P.S. Where has vinyl tape been all of my life? That stuff is great on curves and provides a nice edge. 
OK, I sprayed the stripe without too much drama. One small area wanted to lift when I took off the tape but I was able to save it. I probably should have removed the tape when the paint was just beyond dry to touch but got busy with the evening's festivities. Will try to time that better next time. I left the top side masking in place as the bottom paint is next. After a day to cure, I'll mask the bottom edge of the final stripe edge before masking the stripe and painting the bottom of the hull red.
This was the first airbrushing I had done in probably 20 years so basically starting over. Compared to larger spray painting (rattle can or my large spray gun), I had to train myself to slow down and give the fine paint mist of the airbrush a fighting chance to cover. I think it took four or five light coats.
Thanks so much, Rob! Yep, that tape brings many possibilities!
Good morning Bill. I really like what you are doing with your BN. Way to go. Cheers Grant
Many thanks, Grant. The BN has been incredibly educational and fun!
A nice basic line for the rest of the painting, Bill. It’s always delicate to remove the tape but you are managing it well.
Regards, Peter
Thanks, Peter. Every mistake - big or small - adds to my tool box in the form of what not to do!
Next intermediate step before masking the stripe's final bottom edge before red paint is to level/polish the tiny ridge at the edge of the stripe, where paint accumulated against the vinyl tape. Most of my research points to using 6000/8000 micro mesh pads to gently level it. Even brown paper bags or coffee filters have been mentioned as options. Any other advice is welcome.
Here's a close up of the paint ridge. Looks pretty intimidating this close! 
After a bit of coffee filter polishing...this might just work but I'll be testing another area with a micro mesh pad.
After a bit of coffee filter polishing...this might just work but I'll be testing another area with a micro mesh pad.
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The stripe area that lifted decided to not behave so after a bit of research, I decided to cut it out and repaint. I tape masked the horizontal stripe edges but didn't tape across the existing stripe or risk another ridge or lift. The paper on the sides (with pencil marks) floats above the stripe and is only taped outside the stripe. After curing for a day and a few light passes with a micro mesh pad I was able to get it pretty smooth.
A few days later, I sprayed the lower hull and with overall good results. More detail soon on my method but the stripe as shown is still (intentionally) wide and will be narrowed to the 1mm final width when I spray the upper blue/black.
