Masking and primer layer

[Birdy Cephon]

So I masked off a part of the hull of the ship I want to paint, and applied primer, then paint. However, when I removed the making tape, I get a line of white primer visible on the edge. It's not because the primer seeped under the making tape, but because when the masking tape is removed, the cross section of the layering became visible.

The only way I can think to avoid this, is to not apply the primer all the way to the edge, but is there a better way?

[wefalck]

Not sure I understand the problem correctly, but normally one would paint the lighter colour first, overlapping well the separation line to the darker colour - no masking at this stage. Then you mask off the area already painted and proceed with painting the darker colour. So there are no edges of under-paint exposed.

[Birdy Cephon]

3 hours ago, wefalck said:

Not sure I understand the problem correctly, but normally one would paint the lighter colour first, overlapping well the separation line to the darker colour - no masking at this stage. Then you mask off the area already painted and proceed with painting the darker colour. So there are no edges of under-paint exposed.

I'm painting just a single line a single color, not the entire ship. The rest is natural wood. The problem is the primer is showing.

[wefalck]

Why do you prime ? For a single coloured line (boot-top ?) this is not normally needed, I would think. I suppose you would have applied some sanding sealer and varnish to the natural wood already ?

 

Instead of masking and painting, you may also think of a decal, to be sealed with varnish or not, depending on the kind of model.

[bogeygolpher]

Another alternative is to use either auto pin striping tape or tapes available from chartpak in the width you want.  I used chartpak tape for the waterline on the Bluenose II that I built 35 years ago and it still looks as good as the day it was put on.  I used clear lacquer to coat the tape once installed.

 

As is typical, I responded half way through a thought and assumed you would know where I was.  Let me make myself clear on this.  I did not paint a waterline, I used tape instead of paint for the waterline.

Edited July 15, 2018 by bogeygolpher
Clarity

[kurtvd19]

It sounds like the paint is pretty thick if you can see the primer under the paint and it isn't bleed.  The fix is to either remove all the paint and redo it or mask next to the line making the line a bit wider and then don't prime but add a layer of paint out to the tape.  Remove the tape and the previous edge should be hidden by the paint.  I think removal and starting over might make a better job of it.

 

Also, it sounds like the tape was pretty thick to allow a build up of primer and paint so the edge is able to be seen.  Never use hardware store masking tape - it is too sticky and the edges are not straight and smooth and it's real thick.  Use a good automotive or hobby masking tape.  Tamiya tape is good as is 3M Fine Line tape.  I have switched to FBS K-UTG Gold Crepe masking tape from Coast Airbrush (link below).  It is a very thin tape that isn't too sticky - sticky tape can lift underlying paints - and conforms well.  The thin tape doesn't let paint build up alongside it.    https://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FBS_K-UTG_Gold_Crepe_Masking_Tape

 

Hope this helps

Kurt