Hi all,

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)

Welcome aboard, Gary!

Kev

Hello Gary, and welcome. The Silhouette sticky mats are super (read “over”) sticky to begin with but some of it will soon wear off so that it’s manageable. You could try de-tacking it to a degree by just placing your hands on it a few times, or a sheet of paper then easing it off carefully. It’s a pain but something you just have to work through I’m afraid.

Max

Hi Gary,

Welcome aboard.

I cut Oramask 810 and Tamiya sheets without the mat and I've had no issues. I feed the masking material attached to its backing paper directly in the machine.

I've even cut sheet styrene without the mat.

In the page setup, select "None" under the Cutting Mat section.

For masks and without mat, I usually go with Bade depth 1, force 5, speed 3, 1 pass.

Best of luck.

Hi, and welcome to the Dark Side wonderful world of masking.

I the "lo-tack" version of the Silhouette cutting mat, which for some reason they don't include with the cutter. I got mine from the UK supplier where I bought my Portrait 3, I'm not sure where you'd get one in Canada but I assume they would be available.