Kit Masx | FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that isn't answered here, email us and we'll get you an answer pronto!

What currency are your prices listed in?

All of our prices are listed in Canadian dollars (CAD)🍁 regardless of your location. Please be aware that the final amount charged to your account may differ slightly due to exchange rates and any additional fees your bank may apply for currency conversion. We recommend checking the current exchange rate to better understand how your total may convert to your local currency. 

How do I use painting masks?

Painting masks are perfect for protecting the clear parts of your model—like canopies or landing lights—while spraying paint around them. They’re also great for replicating kit-provided decals (main markings) for a more realistic, painted-on finish.

Follow these steps:

1️⃣ Prepare Your Parts: Clean your model parts thoroughly with soapy water to remove any oils or residue.
2️⃣ Apply the Mask: Use needle-nose tweezers to carefully lift the mask from the sheet and position it on your model.
3️⃣ Removing the Mask: After painting, gently lift the mask using a toothpick, taking care not to scrape the painted surface.

Pro Tip: Dip your clean clear parts in acrylic floor polish (like Future) before masking. This step hides imperfections, gives clear parts a crystal-clear finish, and provides an ideal surface for mask adhesion. While this isn’t mandatory, it can enhance the final look of your model. 

Which is better, Tamiya tape or Oramask 810 vinyl?

When it comes to masking for scale modeling, the choice between Tamiya tape and Oramask 810 vinyl often depends on the project at hand. Both materials offer distinct advantages, but understanding their differences can help you pick the right tool for the job.

Genuine Tamiya Tape

Tamiya tape is a thin, high-quality masking tape with a smooth, yellowish, slightly translucent surface. It’s designed specifically for scale modeling, offering secure adhesion without leaving residue. Its slight flexibility allows it to conform to gentle curves, making it perfect for detailed masking and clean, sharp paint lines. Plus, it’s easy to reposition if needed—perfect for those moments when you don’t get it quite right the first time.

Oramask 810 Vinyl

Oramask 810 is a flexible, grayish-white vinyl masking material ideal for airbrushing and stencil work. Thicker than Tamiya tape, it has a slightly rubbery texture that helps it conform to curves and irregular surfaces. While it offers excellent adhesion, it can shrink over time, so it’s best for short-term use. Oramask is great for larger areas, intricate stencil designs, or masking jobs that require flexibility over uneven surfaces.

Key Differences

• Thickness: Tamiya tape’s thin profile is ideal for precise, fine details, while Oramask’s thicker vinyl is better for covering larger areas or creating stencils.
• Flexibility: Oramask excels on complex curves and irregular surfaces, but Tamiya tape is better for clean edges and delicate masking.
• Repositioning: Both Oramask and Tamiya tape are easy to adjust.
• Stability: Tamiya tape holds its shape over time, while vinyl can shrink, which may affect its precision if not used promptly.

So, Whish is Best?

The answer depends on your needs. For fine detail work, intricate edges, or longer-term projects, Tamiya tape is the clear winner. It’s versatile, easy to work with, and designed with precision in mind. On the other hand, if you’re masking larger areas, working on curves, or using stencils, Oramask 810 is a fantastic choice.

How to Ensure Longevity for Your Masks

All of our masks are cut to order, so if you intend to use them within 6 months, vinyl is a great and more affordable option. If you're planning on storing them for a while (6 months or more), Tamiya tape is definitely better. If sealed properly, masks made from Tamiya tape can last for years.

For compound curves, we designed our masks to pair seamlessly with masking fluid regardless of whether you're using vinyl or Tamiya masks. 

Why is there a significant price difference between vinyl and Tamiya tape in some cases? 

For some of our larger sets, including markings, master mask sets, and national insignias, you may notice a significant price difference between vinyl and Tamiya. This discrepancy arises for a few reasons.

Higher Tamiya Tape Usage: Due to the pre-cut size of Tamiya sheets, we are limited in what we can fit on a single sheet. Consequently, we need more Tamiya tape than vinyl for the same mask set.

Time-Consuming Cutting Process: The pre-determined size of Tamiya sheets requires us to perform several cuts for one mask set, whereas vinyl typically only needs one or two cuts.

Higher Cost of Tamiya Tape: Tamiya tape used to cost six times more than vinyl until our best friend Kerry came along. Now, it's only three times more expensive, which is a significant savings! However, this still results in a consistent price difference between vinyl and Tamiya tape.