Quest Intruder Kit Bash, Part 13, Masking The Spikes

I don't mask like others.

I learned about Scotch tape masks from an Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter.

For years I masked using brown paper tape and even the more expensive Tamiya tape. Results were iffy at best.

In time I got better at smooth fillets giving cleaner masks.

After the first white undercoats look close at your fillets. Uneven fillets can be sanded using very fine 400 grit sandpaper. Masks come out clean and sharp when the glue fillets are smooth.

Most 3 fin, nose cone masks have a different, second color fin.

I lay clear Scotch tape on a plexiglass cutting board.

Down the center of the tape strip I mark a straight line. Wipe a paper towel down the line removing any excess ink.

This is cut through the ink line using a knife and straightedge. 

This gives you two half strips. The black ink lets you see the edge of the tape down the mask line. 

Here's the back side of the engine mask. The ends roll over and set down the side at an angle.

Here's another view with a mask on both sides.

The rest of the rocket body is covered with a thin plastic grocery bag.

A hole was cut in the bag and the fin tip slid through.

The bag was slid down far enough for brown masking tape to join the bag and Scotch tape. The brown masking tape covers the gap.