Hi Felix (@fxrob). I have had similar problems at times, sometimes with Eduard masks, sometimes with others, and sometimes with masking tape that I cut. I think if you leave it on for too long, the paint fully cures and loses its elasticity that it has when it is still curing. The other issue is how much paint and other layers you have sprayed over the masks. The more paint you spray, the harder it is to get a clean separation. For me, there is usually a color layer, then a gloss layer for decals, then a flat layer, then some weathering, and then probably another flat layer. I guess it also depends on whether you are spraying acrylic, lacquers, or enamels. In any case, the only way I know to be sure you will get a clean separation is to lightly score the edge of the mask with an Exacto, then carefully pull the mask off. Good luck.

I am not a pre-cut mask type, basically I refrain from masking as much as I can, my friend @fxrob! I think color peel off will happen from time to time, having to do with how well the color adhered to the plastic, or how much the color has adhered to the mask (or tape) itself (the latter due to various reasons that our friend @gblair has extensively covered. I believe you can carefully touch up the canopies with some paint (not too thick) and a very fine brush (10/0), applying two or more layers patiently. If paint spills over the frame, let it dry and VERY CAREFULLY scrape away with a toothpick.

Hi Felix @fxrob, like Spiros @fiveten above I dislike masking as well, but sometimes we have no option. Due to availability and convenience I invariably use Tamiya products, both their masking tape and the masking stickers included in some of their kits. I try to follow their instructions which state that you should remove the masking before your paint has fully dried. So, maybe, leaving the Eduard masks on your model for extended periods has something to do with the problems you have experienced.

Hope this helps
George

Hi, Felix (@fxrob). I agree with Spiros. I usually don't wash the clear parts unless I have found mold release on the rest of the model, in which case I will usually carefully clean the clear parts also, just in case. The other time I will clean the canopy is when I do any sanding on it. The dust can be hard to remove without a bath. I sometimes give the canopy a dip in either Future or Just Like Glass (from Deluxe Materials) if the canopy doesn't look very clear or not very shiny. Coating your clear plastic with either of these can present its own problems, since it is another layer that can peel up with your tape, but they give your canopy a very nice shine. Recently, I have tried painting the Future or Just Like Glass onto the canopy after I have painted the canopy frames and removed the tape. That way I don't worry about pulling them up with the tape. I never worried about breaking a canopy until recently. I was polishing a canopy with a t-shirt and split it down the middle. Now I am much more careful.

There may also lay a major difference in the type of paint used! Acrylics are most likely to have the problem, enamel not so. Enamels will of course present other problems if you do not have a dedicated, well aired room to paint in. I almost always use paintmasks, and usually brush a layer of acrylics on the frameswork after masking, let it dry for a long time and then airbrush the model with enamels. Doing it that way presents almost no problems for me.

I suppose the wooden toothpick only works on acrylic paint? I find it quite impossible to remove enamels that way.

Anyway, hope all the splendid info from all the great fellow iModelers helps - happy modelling @fxrob!

Dear all, @fiveten, @airbum, @holzhamer, @chinesegeorge and @gblair

Thank you all for your opinon and insight! Again, it was really a bummer and frustrating but i am glad to see it is not uncommon. I decided to go with Pedro's advice and pulled out the old mask out of the trash (eek), put it on again and went over it with a new layer. It has been two days now. When i take them off i will first use a knife. I'll let you all know how it went!

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Hope all goes well, my friend @fxrob!