Masking fluid tips please

[Springbok]

Hi,
I bought some Windsor & Newton colourless art masking fluid from Hobbycraft today, unfortunately the bottle doesn\'t have any usage instructions....

Does anyone know what the maximum amount of time is that the fluid can be left on a painted mini before it becomes impossible to remove,
and can you add a bit of paint to the fluid to change the colour?

Thank you:beer:

 

[matty1001]

When I\'v used it for replicating chips and scratches I just dab it on with a piece of sponge.

It will start getting tacky after a few minutes and doesn\'t take long to fully dry with the aid of a hair dryer, about 5mins.

It goes slightly see through when it dries so it\'s easy to tell. Plus if you touch it it will \'feel\' dry.

Peace and love...

 

[generulpoleaxe]

it\'s latex, you can get it in 1 liter tubs that will supply you for a life time of scratches and chips for the same amount as 6-7 bottles of the vallejo stuff.

it will always be removable unless it rots (then it becomes a sticky mess)

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Springbok
Does anyone know what the maximum amount of time is that the fluid can be left on a painted mini before it becomes impossible to remove...

Haven\'t used this one but if it\'s like their Art Masking Fluid practically indefinitely. Seems to make little or no difference, with the paints I\'m using, if it\'s on for ten minutes or a couple of weeks.

Originally posted by Springbok
...and can you add a bit of paint to the fluid to change the colour?

No idea, sorry; try it and see! If it works on a small test amount might still not be a good idea to do this with the bottle, just in case there\'s a slow reaction that\'s not noticeable.

Einion

 

[mattsterbenz]

I\'ve got some colored masking fluid from W&N. It has a slight yellowish/Bleached Bone color to it, making it easier to see where you\'ve applied it (I imagine that\'s why you want to add pigment to it). I\'d imagine it wouldn\'t hurt, but go with a tiny, tiny, tiny amount of paint in the masking fluid, maybe a drop per ounce to start. Pick a light color such as a Naples Yellow or flesh tone.

I only have experience with masking fluid on watercolor paintings. It\'s best to leave the masking fluid on as short of time as possible. It tends to lift color slightly (but since there is no binder in watercolor paint the pigment is much easier to rub off anyway. Probably different with acrylics), and after a while can rub off some of the paper when you peel it off. How this might affect miniatures, I\'m not sure.

And try it out on some scrap model/sprue first. You don\'t want to ruin a good paintjob!

-Matt

 

[hestan101]

ok, well: masking fliud??? wats that?
iknow its sued for damage, is it suppsoed to go;underlying colour, masking fluid, others paint layers, and take masking fluid off for battle damage showing through?

 

[Springbok]

pretty much yea.... this is what i\'m gonna do...
you prime the mini with chaos black spray, then using a sponge, I am going to build up a rust effect using orange, red, light and dark brown and maybe some grey.
You then take a scourer and dip it into the masking fluid (latex) and stipple where battle damage would occur.
Once the masking fluid is dry, you give the whole model a coat of white primer, and you can then paint the model as normal.
Once youve finished painting the mini, you then take a soft eraser or some blue tack and gently rub off the masking fluid, and there you have your battle damage!

You can then underline the chips for a trompe l\'oeil effect and do some more weathering through either drybrushing, or with ground up pastels:beer:

 

[squig hunter]

Originally posted by hestan101
ok, well: masking fliud??? wats that?
iknow its sued for damage, is it suppsoed to go;underlying colour, masking fluid, others paint layers, and take masking fluid off for battle damage showing through?

Essentially it\'s a liquid latex, which is applied, painted over/around and can then be rubbed or gently scraped away, revealing the underlying paint

Squig

 

[mickc22]

I\'ve added red acrylic to latex with no probs, colored it fine

 

[Springbok]

Did the latex stay consistant for a long time afterwards?

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Springbok
pretty much yea.... this is what i\'m gonna do...
you prime the mini with chaos black spray, then using a sponge, I am going to build up a rust effect using orange, red, light and dark brown and maybe some grey.
You then take a scourer and dip it into the masking fluid (latex) and stipple where battle damage would occur.
Once the masking fluid is dry, you give the whole model a coat of white primer, and you can then paint the model as normal.
Once youve finished painting the mini, you then take a soft eraser or some blue tack and gently rub off the masking fluid, and there you have your battle damage!

Yep, that should work.

Low-tack tape can also be used to pick off the masking; this sometimes works better than a rubbing motion.

Einion

 

[donga666]

Originally posted by generulpoleaxe
it\'s latex, you can get it in 1 liter tubs that will supply you for a life time of scratches and chips for the same amount as 6-7 bottles of the vallejo stuff.

it will always be removable unless it rots (then it becomes a sticky mess)

Latex will go off in about six months, first go grainy then into a nice big block (I used to work in a latex sheeting factory). I\'ve seen a barrel go off, very wobbly

Artist mask has preservatives, so they last alot longer.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

Originally posted by donga666

Originally posted by generulpoleaxe
it\'s latex, you can get it in 1 liter tubs that will supply you for a life time of scratches and chips for the same amount as 6-7 bottles of the vallejo stuff.

it will always be removable unless it rots (then it becomes a sticky mess)

Latex will go off in about six months, first go grainy then into a nice big block (I used to work in a latex sheeting factory). I\'ve seen a barrel go off, very wobbly

Artist mask has preservatives, so they last alot longer.

never had that problem when i used to makes latex masks for a living.
just bought in bulk once a year and it was fine as long as it was sealed.

 

[donga666]

Does your house smell like wee (well, Ammonia) Chris?

Latex in the hair is bad!

I\'ve had the same bottle of W&N mask since Uni, that was over 10 years ago. It\'s fine, I don\'t use that much but after this thread I\'m going to fish it out for next years Dio