RAF Dakota MKIII - Painting

[HP137]

I'm building this kit and need advice on how to create the zigzag betwen the top and bottom colours

[peebeep]

You don't say whether or not you're brushing or airbrushing, but if brushing you could use masking tape cut to the appropriate shapes, or masking fluid painted on by hand. It's also possible to get thin vinyl masking tapes that can be worked into curves. If airbrushing the aforementioned methods will work, but also there's the possibility of using Blue or White Tack rolled into thin strings then worked into curves. You will need to add additional masking to avoid overspray.

[HP137]

You don't say whether or not you're brushing or airbrushing, but if brushing you could use masking tape cut to the appropriate shapes, or masking fluid painted on by hand. It's also possible to get thin vinyl masking tapes that can be worked into curves. If airbrushing the aforementioned methods will work, but also there's the possibility of using Blue or White Tack rolled into thin strings then worked into curves. You will need to add additional masking to avoid overspray.

I'll be brushing. It's the technique of applying the masking that I'm after.

 

[peebeep]

Everybody has their own way of doing these things, here's my suggestion. For a wavy line on the fuselage (for example), first of all paint the lightest colour on to the model. This will be the colour you are masking. Get some tape - most modellers prefer the yellow Washi type - and stick it down on the model on a line approximating where the wavy line is to appear. Using a pen or pencil draw the wavy pattern onto the tape, then taking a sharp craft knife you can either trim it in-situ, or remove it and stick it onto a cutting mat, then trim to shape and re-apply to the model. It's a good idea, especially with brushing, to seal the edge of the tape, either with clear varnish or using the same colour as that being masked. This will reduce the possibility of any paint bleeding through.