✈️ Airbrush Camouflage

Create perfect multi-tone camo patterns:

• Block out base colors before spraying new layers
• Sharp-edged camo on vehicles and aircraft
• Complex urban, woodland, or desert patterns
• Free-hand organic camo shapes

Each color stays perfectly separated with no overspray bleed.

👁️ Facial Details & Eyes

Protect delicate painted features:

• Preserve eyes while painting faces
• Mask teeth, gems, or jewelry
• Protect finely painted tattoos or markings
• Shield emblems and insignia

Avoid having to repaint intricate details after base coating.

⚙️ Metallics & NMM

Keep metallic elements pristine:

• Protect gold, silver, bronze details
• Mask non-metallic metal (NMM) sections
• Shield weapon blades during armor painting
• Preserve metallic highlights and reflections

Maintain pristine metallic finishes without touch-ups.

🎨 Color Blocking

Clean color separation techniques:

• Hard-edge geometric patterns
• Racing stripes and vehicle liveries
• Two-tone or three-tone color schemes
• Heraldry and banner designs

Achieve sharp lines impossible with tape on curved surfaces.

🛡️ Pre-Shading & Modulation

Advanced painting techniques:

• Mask highlights before base coating
• Pre-shade with airbrush then protect
• Color modulation and panel shading
• Zenithal highlighting protection

Complex layering becomes manageable with selective masking.

🌊 Weathering & Effects

Controlled weathering applications:

• Mask clean areas before chipping fluids
• Create sharp paint chip boundaries
• Protect finished sections during rust effects
• Selective dirt and grime application

Control exactly where weathering appears for realistic results.

⚠️ Before You Start

Ensure surfaces are clean, dry, and fully cured. Liquid Mask works best over completely dry paint—applying over wet or tacky paint can damage the finish when you remove the mask. Use dedicated old brushes for application as latex can ruin good brushes if not cleaned immediately.

1. Shake & Test

Shake the bottle well to ensure even consistency. Test on a scrap piece first to check drying time and removal characteristics. Different temperatures and humidity affect drying speed.

2. Apply with Brush

Use an old brush you don't mind dedicating to masking fluid. Dip brush into the bottle and apply a thin, even layer over the areas you want to protect. The turquoise color lets you see coverage clearly. For fine details like eyes or gems, use a toothpick or fine-tipped tool. Work quickly—liquid mask starts to dry as soon as it's exposed to air.

3. Build Coverage

For areas that will receive heavy paint application (like airbrushing), apply 2-3 thin layers rather than one thick coat. Let each layer dry before adding the next. Multiple thin layers create stronger, easier-to-remove masks than single thick applications.

4. Dry Completely

Wait 15-30 minutes for thin layers, 30-60 minutes for thick applications. The mask changes from glossy wet to matte when dry. Touch-test gently—if it's still tacky, give it more time. Rushing leads to paint seeping under the mask.

5. Paint Over Mask

Once dry, paint normally over the masked areas. The flexible latex film protects what's underneath. You can brush paint, airbrush, or spray over it. Avoid excessive solvent-heavy paints that might attack the latex—most hobby paints are fine.

6. Let Paint Cure

Allow your paint to dry completely before removing the mask. If you remove it while paint is still wet, you risk smudging or pulling up paint from surrounding areas. For acrylics, wait at least 30 minutes; for enamels, wait several hours.

7. Peel Away Cleanly

Use tweezers, a toothpick, or your fingernail to lift an edge of the dried mask. Peel slowly and steadily in one direction. The turquoise film should come away in one piece, revealing sharp, clean paint lines underneath. If small bits remain, gently rub with a clean finger or eraser to remove them.

🔹 Free-Hand Camouflage

For organic camo patterns, apply liquid mask in irregular shapes with a sponge or torn foam. Dab randomly across the model, let dry, then spray your next camo color. Remove mask, reapply in different areas, spray again. This creates authentic-looking multi-tone camo without templates or tape.

🔹 Sharp Hard Edges

For geometric patterns or straight lines, use masking tape to create the general shape, then seal the tape edges with liquid mask. This prevents paint from seeping under the tape edge. After painting, remove the tape first, then peel the liquid mask—you'll get perfectly sharp transitions.

🔹 Preserving Pre-Shading

After pre-shading with black or zenithal highlighting, mask off the highlight areas you want to preserve. Apply your base colors over the mask. When you remove it, the pre-shaded highlights remain intact, creating instant depth and shadow without additional work.

🔹 Tiny Detail Protection

For extremely small details like rivets or tiny gems, use a toothpick dipped in liquid mask. Place a tiny dot over each detail. The high-visibility blue lets you see even pinpoint applications. This is especially useful before spray priming or base coating assembled models with fine details already painted.

🔹 Hairspray Chipping Alternative

Create realistic paint chips without hairspray: Apply liquid mask in random small patches over your base color, paint the top color, then remove the mask. The exposed base color looks like natural paint wear. More controlled than traditional hairspray chipping methods.

🔹 Panel Line Preservation

After applying panel line washes, mask over the entire model with liquid mask. This protects your panel lining during subsequent weathering steps. Remove the mask to reveal crisp, clean panel lines that weren't disturbed by weathering pigments or washes.

Will it damage painted surfaces when removed?

No, when used correctly. The key is ensuring your base paint is completely cured before applying liquid mask. Fresh paint (less than 24 hours old) can be pulled up when you remove the mask. Wait until paint is fully hardened, and the mask will peel cleanly without any damage.

Can I use this with lacquer paints?

Use caution with strong lacquer solvents. Most hobby lacquers (like Mr. Color or Tamiya) work fine, but extremely hot lacquers might attack the latex mask. Test on a scrap piece first. If the mask dissolves or becomes tacky when exposed to your paint, it's not compatible. Acrylics and enamels work perfectly without issues.

What if I have a latex allergy?

Do not use this product if you have latex sensitivity. Consider alternatives like masking tape cut to shape, liquid frisket made from non-latex materials, or adhesive masking sheets. Wear nitrile gloves if you have mild sensitivity but still want to use the product, and work in well-ventilated areas.

How long can I leave the mask on before painting?

You can leave it on for days or even weeks. The latex film stays flexible and removable indefinitely once dry. However, for best results, don't leave it on for months—prolonged exposure to sunlight or extreme temperatures might make removal more difficult.

What if paint bleeds under the mask?

This usually happens when: (1) the mask wasn't fully dry before painting, (2) paint was applied too heavily causing pooling, or (3) the surface wasn't clean before masking. Ensure the mask is completely dry (matte finish, not glossy), apply paint in light coats, and clean surfaces thoroughly before applying mask.

Can I reuse removed mask?

No, once removed, the mask loses its adhesive properties and won't reapply cleanly. However, you can reapply fresh liquid mask to the same areas multiple times throughout a project as needed for different painting stages.

Why use liquid mask instead of tape?

Liquid mask conforms to complex curves and details that tape cannot follow. It creates sharper lines on textured surfaces, gets into tiny recesses, and allows free-form organic shapes impossible with tape. Plus, it's see-through when applied, letting you verify you've covered the right areas before painting.

How long does a 30ml bottle last?

A 30ml bottle goes surprisingly far since you apply thin layers. For miniature painting, expect to mask 50-100+ miniatures depending on how much masking each project requires. For larger vehicle models with extensive camo work, one bottle might cover 5-10 projects. The key is applying thin coats rather than thick globs.