Q: I’ve seen a few Model Railroader articles on painting and weathering that reference liquid mask. How does the product work, and where can I find it? — Michael M.
A: Liquid mask is a product that’s applied with a brush to keep paint off of areas that would be hard to cover using traditional masking methods such as tape. Contributing Editor Pelle Søeborg used referenced it in his article “How to weather a modern diesel” in the October 2016 issue of MR. He applied the product to the headlight lenses on a Kato HO scale AC4400CW diesel locomotive prior to weathering the model.
After Pelle finished weathering the diesel, he removed the liquid mask with the tip of a hobby knife. He wrote, “Note that it’s important not to leave the mask on the model for more than a day, as the mask will dry out and be difficult to remove.”
Pelle used liquid mask again in his article “One-day weathering” in the August 2018 MR. In the four-page story, he demonstrated how to simulate faded, peeling paint on an HO scale Union Pacific Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. In addition to covering the headlights and ditch lights, he used a paintbrush to apply liquid mask to the lettering on the long hood, the numbers on the cab, the heralds, and random areas of the shell and fuel tank.
Next, Pelle weathered the model with an airbrush and thinned enamel paint. He let the paint dry for 30 minutes before unmasking the SD40-2. “To remove the liquid masking material, I carefully stuck the tip of a scalpel blade under the edge of the mask and lifted it up,” Pelle wrote. “It can be difficult to see the Micro Mask after the model is airbrushed with thinned white. Take your time and make sure all of the masking material is removed before proceeding.”
In my September 2022 MR article “Quick and easy gondola weathering,” I used a liquid mask to cover the axle tips prior to weathering metal wheelsets. Once the paint and weathering was applied, I removed the mask with a hobby knife.
Liquid mask is available under different names from various manufacturers, including Humbrol Maskol, Microscale Micro Mask, and Vallejo Liquid Mask. You can find liquid masks at most well-stocked hobby shops.
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