DrV

My Feedback: (2)

What is the most convenient way to paint a camouflage scheme. I’m planning to use 3m masking tape for the curves, but this would take a lot of time. I also have the patterns cut out on paper. Is there another way to apply this pattern onto the surface other than to trace it with thin masking tape?


Thanks

Mike

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

Cut the different patterns for the different colors out of paper, and use them
a stencils. The edges of the camo paterns should be soft looking, and blend-in
slightly....not a crisp edge as with masking tape. Spray paint through the stencils.

You can hold the stencils up slightly off the surface when you spray them to get
the correct looking edges. Do some practice first, and the job will come out looking
just right.

FBD.

Campy

My Feedback: (1)

When I paint camo I paint my base color first.

When that is COMPLETELY DRY, I make/cut out my stencils.

I then take some 3M 2DOT BLUE MASKING tape and make several rolls about 1/4" thick (sticky side out ). These I stick on the back of the stencil about 1/2 - 3/4" from the edge.

(The 2 dot blue masking tape WILL NOT pull up the fresh paint, where the 3 dot and higher will pull the paint. The 2 dot is recognized by 2 dots on the side of the celophane wrapper in the adhesive rating, a paper like appearance, not textured, and it will say "60 Day Safe Release" )

Now I position the stencil where I want it and LIGHTLY press down to adhere it in place.

When I paint the color I try to keep the airbrush as close to perpendicular as possible while doing the edge and when shooting the balance of the area try to spray away from the stencil. The camo area will come out with a nice soft edge and, if you have masked properly, no overspray on the other areas.

DrV

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the great advice. I have already cut out the stencils and that is exactly the way I was planning to do it. I just thought I would want a sharp edge rather then blended edge. My base color is olive drab fabric. I will be using brown paint on top of it. Again thanks for the advice.

Mike

Stew99

Some aircraft companies used paint masks that left a sharp edge on their camo. I have used sticky-backed shelf paper to lay out the pattern. It's easy to cover large areas.