My name is Andy, and I’ve been building mostly model aircraft (preferably in 1/48th & 1/32nd— with the occasional venture into 1/35th armour and the odd ship model — ever since I helped (hindered at age 8 more like...lol) my grandpa build a model kit in England back in 1977 (an Airfix 1/24 Ju-87 Stuka kit ).

I stepped away from the hobby for far too many years, but I’m now making a real effort to dive back in and start working through my growing stash of kits that are waiting for me to build.

I’ve seen a lot of great articles and videos of modelers using Cricut and Silhouette machines to create custom paint masks, so I recently picked up a gently used Cricut Explore Air 2 to see if I can learn the ropes myself.

Joining this site seemed like the perfect place to start!

Looking forward to learning from everyone and hopefully sharing some progress along the way.

I am a relocated brit, now based in Rotterdam. I drifted back to scale modelling after a 30-odd year break, building 1/48 WW2 era aircraft. I recently purchased a second hand silhouette cameo 3 to try to replace some roundel decals which disintegrated on contact with water, and while I was quite happy with my results for a first attempt, I would now love to find out how to use the thing properly, to hopefully improve my modelling skills. Apologies in advance, therefore, for any daft newbie questions! Best regards, Francis

I'm coming back to the hobby after taking the "long pause" when life, school, and then a career took precedent over quiet "me time" building marvelous flying machines.

When I came back, I was amazed at how much has changed, and equally at how much has remained the same. I now know what I didn't when I was younger and have been prioritizing time for myself and set aside quiet periods for me to build and learn, learn and build and just generally enjoy a hobby that I always loved. Due to space considerations, I generally build 1/72 aircraft (but really admire the work of those who build the larger scales.)

Something that always fascinated me was the idea of actually painting my own markings (at least partially because I don't really like decals, and I like applying them less). Couple that with the fact that I'm frequently drawn to paint schemes that don't really work well as decals, and you can probably do the math. Sooner or later I was going start looking at things like buying a cutting plotter, and toying with actually painting those schemes myself.

I have a ton of questions and am hoping to learn from the experience that seems to be gathered here. I am coming to this as basically a blank slate. I haven't purchased any equipment, yet, and hope to gather whatever wisdom I can from those with more experience. I've got a good bit of research under my belt, but don't want to muddy this thread with all that. Hopefully, someone can point me at the right forum to ask such basic questions.

Thank you all in advance!

I’ve been lurking here for a while now. I’m active on most of the modeling forums, I build 1/48 primarily, I also build 1/32.

I bought my Cameo 4 when it was first released, sadly I only plugged it in the past few weeks. I’ve felt a little intimidated over designing my own markings. I am currently finishing up a 1/48 Arma Hurricane and this build has forced my hand. I’m usually pretty good at applying decals, but I had a lot of trouble on this kit getting the decals to conform over the raised details. Some decals also cracked, so this build has forced my hand.

This kit is absolutely fabulous and a pure joy to build. The past week I learned the sillouette software, designed my own roundels, and I have applied them for my first attempt this AM. I’ve watched dozens of YouTube videos and I am using those settings and techniques. I did a lot of test runs, using both Tamiya mask material and Oracal 810. I must say, the simple designs I completed were quite easy, why did I wait so long?

I do have a few questions. Initially I was cutting with the sillouette cutting pad and soon discovered I was supposed to remove the covering to the sticky material, I was getting pretty good results. Once I discovered I was supposed to remove that film, I still get good cuts but removing the mask material now deforms the mask sheets, it stretches it in places regardless of how careful I remove it.

Is there a way to print either with the covering back on, or without the mat altogether? I tried to print with the cover back on the sticky material but now my mask material shifts during cutting, when I do that. I don’t know why I had success at the start.

I look forward to learning more at this excellent site.

Cheers,

Gary (Scooby)

I'm new in here but have been designing masks for about 4 years .

I really eenjoy it, and get quite good results at reducing my decals usage ;-).

Using a Cameo Silhouette 3 (thinking a bout a 5) and mostly oramask vinyl but also cricut vinyl which tends to be harder and as such allow finer details and smaller letters when it's needed.

I mostly build planes of any scale.

Glad to be here with you mates!

Dainis

Je me présente , Pascal 65 ans, français habitant prés de Grenoble maquettiste depuis................. Je construit essentiellement des avions au 1/72, avec un centre d'intérêt particulier : les pilotes FAFL ( Free French) pendant la seconde guerre mondiale. Je remplace petit à petit les décals des kits par des pochoirs réalisés avec la silhouette.

Je débute dans les pochoirs et je viens donc vous rejoindre pour progresser.

Merci pour votre accueil.

Mostly I do 1/35 armour. and I would say I'm alright with an ab, so I don't use masks much, however my heart truly lies with helicopters, I just started the new Italeri 1/72 Merlin HM.1. I just find there isn't a lot of verity with current offerings. That said, I'm venturing into making my own masks with a Portrait3. I have had some success with the whole trace option within the silhouette software, but I'm lost when it comes to making anything remotely complex or making anything at all XD. So I'd be grateful for any tips and advice that you excellent folks have to offer.

Oh and if it matters. I'm from the UK XD

In the big scales, I much prefer to paint insignia and codes, so this looks like an excellent place.

I have just spent a couple of days in Inkscape creating masks for some of the stencils on the Airscale B-P Defiant, and am eagerly awaiting delivery of a Silhouette Portrait 4 to see if they are actually cuttable... :-)

Mark here, have just joined the. community. Have been modelling for most of. my life, and using commercial masks for the last several years and hoping to extend into a more extensive use of them. As I have a Brother cutter and use a Mac rather than PC (although I have Parallels, so can run Windows software as well) I'm in a minority here. Still learning how to use the cutter at the moment.

Have a great day everyone.

I do military airplane models, and are particularly interested in Royal Danish Air Force subjects but also many others. Currently working on an SR-71, a Hawker Hunter, and a Gloster Meteor, all in 1/48 scale. The last two will be RDAF.

Certainly glad to be here as I have already found some things to try out on the list.

Russ

I hope I could be also useful for anyone who needs particular colors crafted for various unusual needs, like real RAF MAP colors for spraying masked airplanes (or PRU pink if someone wants that shade of spitfire...)