Tesa tape

Self adhesive tapes have great importance in modeling and they have a wide use from keeping parts in position during gluing, fixing position and protection during painting. There are some specialized modeling products but I have found one product perfect for the modeling projects- Tesa Precision Sensitive tape!

This tape comes in a card package and it is available in two width sizes, we present here tape 25 mm width and 25 m roll! So enough for a few years of modeling work! Color of the tape is pink and it is good to differ much from regular surface color we meet in our hobby. What especially attracted me is the declaration that this tape is low tack so it could be suitable for the very sensitive paints we ordinary use.

First test is made on F-16 and the making of shapes for aggressor camouflage pattern. The kit is regularly prepared with primer and it has a first coat of acrylic paint from Japan. I have put strips of Tesa tape on the surface and then traced the contour of color with standard graphite pencil. Paper surface performs good and I have clearly visible pencil lines. Then I have removed tape and cut to the proper shape and removed the rest of the tape. I returned tape back to the surface and the tape worked well with excellent tack performance, no matter it is put on and away from surface (which usually makes weak tape for tack again). I have sprayed a coat of paint thinned with alcohol. The paint dried fast and I have removed tape. Results was excellent, shape was sharp, no leaks under and no tape traces over surface.

The next test is much more brutal and I wanted to know the absolute limit of Tesa tape. We all know for Vallejo paints, they have excellent range of paints, many shades ready to use, easy to use bottles, works in any airbrush nozzles, dry fast but to regret, poor adhesion to surface. The worst thing you can do is to spray Vallejo paint direct on shiny plastic and then to try to mask and paint other paint. You will for sure peel off paint. This is exactly what I did, I painted a coat of grey paint on plastic and after it was completely dry I painted a provisional coat of green color over the masked area. Result- I removed tape and no damage occurred!!! Tesa tape works perfectly even in this disastrous situation!!!

Tesa Precision Sensitive tape is an excellent product and I warmly recommend you to put it on top priority list for your next order! It works perfectly, keeps your shape and surface precise, this is suitable for many paint jobs in modeling.

Great thanks to Dragan Sarcevic from Tesa tape Kft for sample products and thanks to Vallejo for support of review.

Srecko Bradic