Ok you guys, I don't know why this is'nt working.[&o] I am using 1/64 wide tape to create panel lines on a scrap piece of glassed balsa sheeting. I picked this width to use on my BT Spitfire 83" kit figuring that width is about right for the scale size of the model. I marked out some lines on the primed piece of scrap balsa and applied the tape over the pencil lines. Then I sprayed over only the tape with three coats of latex primer, letting it dry in between coats. After the third coat dried, I removed the tape. The tape was difficult to remove, but I eventually got it all off. The taper came off in pieces instead of one continuos length[:@]. Maybe I should have removed it before the last coat dried.
My question is, it looks as though the panel lines are not deep enough. They are barely visible in some spots. Am I using tape that is not thick enough? Do I need to apply more than 3 coats before removing the tape? Is there something I'm missing here or is the way it's suppose to appear. I am worried that after applying the color coats the panel lines will be filled in.

Mark

You want to use a high fill primer that doesn't shrink after curing, such as Nelson Hobby Epoxy Primer (an excellent primer).

You dont need a very deep line. Remember everything is magnified when you add paint. Put a little paint on your sample and look at it in the sunlight. You may be suprised.

I used Duplicolor High Build Primer that I bought at the auto parts store. When you pull up the chart tape, the adheisive backing sometimes does like to stay in the groove on the plane. I made a small scraper from an .05 allen wrench which I ground with a ceramic drum on my dremel. I use it to scrape out whatever stuck in the groove, being careful to not scratch through the fiberglass. It took about 2 - 3 coats of high build primer and I pulled the tape off about an hour after spraying the last coat. I missed a couple of pieces of tape and discovered them several days later, and still had no (more) problem pulling it up.

Scott

You should sand the primer down to the top of the tape and then pull it up. I found that a light application of heat from a heat gun helps release the tape. I then soak the groove with Goo Gone to disolve the tape residue left in the crack and clean it with a QTip. Clean the Goo Gone with rubbing alcohol to get rid of the oily residue.