20 replies to this topic

[Jim W.]

I've just recently got back into slot racing after 25 years & man, has it changed!!! I ran Group 15 & Group 27 wing cars back then & there's no comparison to what we have today. I've recently bought a Roland Stika desktop cutter that I'm wanting to use for my paint stencils for my wing bodies. The question I have is - how do you apply the darn things? I don't have a problem with the side stencils. It's the top stencil that's giving me fits. Do I apply the stencil in one piece or do I need to apply the stencil in several pieces? I know that, when doing the actual painting, the dark colors go on first, such as window frames, number outlines etc... that's not a problem. Ir's the application of the actual stencil that's really thrown me for a loop. I'm really not thrilled with the idea of screwing up some bodies just to apply a masking stencil.

Any help is appreciated.

Jim Wilshire
Amarillo, Texas

[garyvmachines]

Hi Jim

 I buy my masking from parma or one of the RC mask ..... I love the big graphics for RC on slots .....

To get these on scale body's I have to cut them in to smaller pieces......And patch them back together with 3M tape .........

AND YOU WILL mess up a few body's & Masks .......It is part of the learning curve , Hang in their & have fun......

 

I would like to hear more about your desk top cutter !!! How Much ? How Fast? & How Big can it cut ?????can we see pic.??

 

GAV     

[Samiam]

Jim,

I don't know if you have laid eyes on any current wing bodies. They are as flat paneled  as Late Model Dirt cars. No perceivable cockpit or front wheel wells. Should be easy peasy to lay mask. Scale or Retro bodies will be much more of a task.

 

Welcome back to slots.  

 

Now plug in your soldering iron and get to work.

[smokie]

Jim....

go to a lowe's or home depot and look in the paint department for some "Frog Tape" low adhesion masking tape. this is what I use to transfer the vinyl paint masks to the body.

here's my process:

cut out the design on your cutter.

use some scissors to separate each design.

remove (weed) all the unwanted vinyl from around the design.

take a piece of the frog tape and cover the vinyl, and then rub the tape to get it fully stuck to the design.

carefully and SLOWLY lift the tape from the backing paper.

you will be able to see through the body to place the design.

once you've chosen a location, place the design on the lexan, and then rub the tape yo make sure that the vinyl is stuck to the body.

slowly remove the frog tape. the vinyl should stick to the body.

 

it takes a little practice, but it should work well for you. make sure that you get a low adhesion tape. regular tape has too high of an adhesion, so the vinyl wont come off it.

[Jim W.]

Thanks for all the help.  Gary, here's a link to the cutter I have:

 

http://www.specialty...nyl_Cutter.html

 

This is the place I bought it from.  I've only used my cutter a few times for small items & it works great.  The only problem I had that was a little time consuming was setting up the cutter depth of the knife. 

[Ralph Thorne]

You will probably be better off purchasing some transfer tape from the supplier you bought the cutter from.

 

http://www.specialty...219195cc0ec9889

[smokie]

I have tried all the different types of transfer tape from several different suppliers....none of them work as well as the tape does for me. I use the FDC 2900 paint mask vinyl from specialty graphics, and the adhesion from the "low tack" transfer tape still pulls the vinyl off the body.....

I just post what works for me....

good luck

[Fast Freddie]

There is a tape ( looks frosted like Scotch Magic tape) used for drafting that is a very easy pull tape.  I think 3M makes it but don't hold me to that.  I have a roll of 3/4 wide and it's on a light blue hub.  I think I got it at Staples many years ago.   

[smokie]

  I think I got it at Staples   

that was easy......

[Bill from NH]

You can also find drafting tape at stores such as Office Depot, Office Max, Home Depot, Dick Blick, & on Amazon.  I have some older Alvin brand drafting tape that has a tan paper backing & looks much like masking tape. I also have some Alvin dots made from the same material.

[smokie]

I'm going to go down and find some of that drafting tape, just to give it a try. The reason that I really like the frog tape is because it comes in several different widths, so it makes it easier to adjust to whatever size The paint mask is...

[Booger]

In the automotive world,to position masks,use a spray bottle with water and a couple drops of dish soap.Spray surface for mask,apply mask,move where you want it,work mask from center out to remove water.....wipe body with paint prep.....Done......Spray away.....They do the same thing for big stickers on the sides of truck trailers also,so you can fudge them around a little .....Seems like this would work on lexan also.

[smokie]

Seems like this would work on lexan also.

Sorry, Booger

it contaminates the surface of the lexan, and if you try to use the solvent based paint prep,  it compromises the integrity of the paint mask adhesive....and the soap dissolves only with water. You'll have to trust me on this. Noose will second this little trivia factoid....

[idare2bdul]

I use a piece of flat glass to put tape on to reduce the tack of the tape if it is too sticky and is pulling up the vinyl. I also find that cursing helps.

[Bill from NH]

I've been known to lower the tack of masking tape by first sticking it to my forehead.The skin's natural oil seems to work fine. I use a piece of glass as a cutting board when cutting sharp masking lines & numbers. 

[Booger]

I didn't mean lacquer thinner,more like denatured alcohol......But I believe you,you folks are the lexan painters,not I....Just a friendly suggestion......

[Dave Buchholz]

I have a vinyl cutter capable of loading a 24 inch wide roll. Today I was looking on line for e product that would eliminate the step of using  transfer tape being applied to the  vinyl, then applying the vinyl mask and and having to remove the transfer tape.

 

 I was looking for a one step solution where the design backing gets pulled off and the mask goes directly to the body without using transfer tape. Think of a "sticker" that peels from the backing and is directly applied.

 

 Looked at this today, Anybody used it before?

 

https://store.garsto...ber=RT1310190UP

[Brian Czeiner]

How would you cut the vinyl but not the tape? I would think cutting from the back would be a problem to remove all of the backing material. If you are looking for a cheaper transfer tape, I used regular blue masking tape in 1" or 3" wide rolls. 

[Dave Buchholz]

That is what  setting the depth of the cutter blade does. It allows cutting through the vinyl,but not the backing. You pull off the vinyl/mask design from the backing and stick it on the body as mask for panting.

[Mike K]

. Looked at this today, Anybody used it before?

 

https://store.garsto...ber=RT1310190UP

 

Not an expert but, I would be concerned about the "hi tack" description. Most of what I use is sign vinyl along with a low tack transfer tape. Not sure I have seen a vinyl that has a backing already on the vinyl, but it would save a step. With lexan bodies, especially .007 and thinner, the lower adhesion allows the masking to be removed more easily between painting steps/colors.

[Dave Buchholz]

Think of how window masks usually are peeled off a backing with no transfer tape needed as an intermediate step.

Essentially, that's what I am after. I do not know what material is in common use, if sold in sheets, rolls etc, paper or vinyl.

I have seen RC body flames masks that appear to be adhesive backed paper. No transfer tape needed.