Is there a source of round masks?

[DavidWomby]

I just had a heck of a time painting some wheels. These were off an old Frog kit with nice hub detail but no rim ring. So the 'run thinned black into the rim and then go back and paint the rest of the tyre' technique couldn't be used. In the end I sprayed the hubs through a hole in one of those plastic stencils with lots of sizes of holes but I'm not pleased with them. Some nice generic round masks would seem an easier answer. Do any exist, please?

David

[PaulBradley]

I have found these useful:

https://modelpaintsol.com/news/squares- ... imple-easy

I bought mine from a vendor at a model show.

[DavidWomby]

I have found these useful:

https://modelpaintsol.com/news/squares- ... imple-easy

I bought mine from a vendor at a model show.

Thank you, Paul.

David

[TeeELL]

David,
have you considered a compass cutter? I use the Flex-i-file version and, without teaching you to suck eggs I place a strip of masking tape on a cutting surface followed by a second layer, which is the one I will use. The Flex-i-file will cut consistent circles. I’ve not used my very expensive Dspacea? Cutter since.
https://flex-i-file.com/products/super-cutting-compass

[DavidWomby]

Thanks, Tony. I have an Olfa compass cutter but haven't had much success with small circles like those needed for wheels.

David

[TeeELL]

I have to say that the Flex-i-file does a really great job, I wonder if it us because it has a blade rather than a cutting wheel? I’ve been able to produce some very small circular masks with mine.

[flakmonkey]

Have you tried a circle template? They are cheap and cover a huge range of diameters. I often use mine to produce a mask from masking tape, or for armour roadwheels I will spray the wheel in the rubber tyre colour, then play the template directly over it and spray the camo colour. This works well.

[fredk]

Two items I use;
1. I have a quadzillion hole punches in sizes from 0.5 mm upwards in 0.5mm steps mostly so I can punch out discs just about any size from Tamiya masking tape
2. for handiness I also keep a selection of round sticky labels in common sizes, eg 8mm, 10mm