I don't know when pinked edge tapes became available as a stock item, but it was post WW1. The earlier A/C used a straight edged tape, but with the edges 'frayed' by removing some of the long threads (Warp or Weft? Can never remember...) each side and the frayed edge helped prevent the 'lift and curl'. So far as models are concerned, if you can't see the the tape edge at a couple of feet from the full size, then that's only a few inches from even a 1/4 scaler. Given that scale judging is done from 3 metres or so, you really should not be able to see the reinforcing tapes even from a couple of feet away...that being so then it would not be wrong to simply omit them entirely, although I guess that some of us would be then offended that all that work was in vain... To each his own...
Evan, WB #12.