Need Advice from Air Brushing Painters RE: Masking

[Zab]

So with little Harley done the big bust of Harley is going to be mainly AB work. I want to push my skills a bit and this weird bust looks like a good opportunity.
View attachment 41640
I need some advice on masking her face.
Would it be easier to finish her skin and mask that as it is recessed before working on her costume and mask?
OR
Finish her mask and costume which is raised and then mask that before working on the skin?

What would you use?
I have failed with liquid mask in the past as I used it on details that were too fine and too deep, but this seems shallow and good for liquid mask. i also have tamyia tape and silly putty and blu tac.

Suggestions? Opinions? Anecdotes? Mockery?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MAXXxxx]

I think it's personal pref., but I'd paint the skin, then mask it. The reason is, that it's pretty easy to cut the masking in the direction of the raised details. So the way I cut the cuts are cleaner this way.

Also I'd use a mix of 'normal' (the tamiya) tape and liquid mask and before applying liquid mask (around small parts / at the edges) I'd coat the bust with satin varnish (and wait a day for it to set) to protect the paintjob / it's removed easier. Ohh and to remove the mask: use putty (you'll have to throw it away after, you'll see why) or a wooden toothpick (something soft).

 

[Zab]

Thanks Maxxxxx! Last time i tried liquid mask on some 28mm eldar faceplates and it was just way too hard to get it out of the recesses. This one seems like it would be perfect

 

[MagmaPainter]

I'm not a airbrush master or anything, but I would start with the mask and work my way out using the tape and liquid mask. Get the bulk of it with the tape then hit the places you can't get to with the liquid mask and work over the tape a liittle, then when you pull the tape the liquid mask will come off as well.

 

[Webmonkey]

#00 brush!!!

 

[Canny]

Nice Zab I would do the face, then liquid mask Ive had the old vallejo and the new one (blue) if you have the brown one dont use it, only trouble and woe. The blue on is much better make sure you make it thick enough to peel off when you are finished maybe 2-3 coats, if its too thin its a beep to get off. Dont forget to use the AB just like a brush thin your paints and use glazes for subtle tones. All the best buddy.
I tend to use Blue tack or silly putty for the 28-32mm minis for large areas and liquid mask for smaller areas.

Like Maxx said bluetack takes it off really well. also agree let it dry for a bit 24H before masking it.

All the best.

 

[Zab]

Thanks everyone! So look like I start with her face and then varnish and then mask and continue on from there... Easy peasy what could go wrong

 

[archreptile]

For what its worth yeah face first then mask. I've also not had a lot of luck with liquid mask - even after a varnish I've battled to get it off and sometimes it has even fused with the varnish depending on what brand you use so I avoid like the plague. Silly putty (like the stuff from the PK PRO shop) seems to work very well but obviously suffers a bit from softer edges. Millions of pieces of tamiya tape on the edges of her face will give a great result and they've never pulled any of my paint off so thats what I would do but the putty is surprisingly easy - experimenting with it more and more these days

 

[airhead]

electrical tape can be stretched an "bent" around edges and gives a clean edge.
Again, a coat of interclear to prevent pulling up your work when you remove the mask.

 

[Zab]

Yeah i may avoid the fluid mask - still a little nervous after last time. i have heard of the electrical tape, but never tired it - have to pick some up and give it a shot, thanks!