Thin Tape That Will Stay Put.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Hi folks.

I’ve been contemplating how I’m going to recreate the seams on a convertible top, and I’m a little bit at a loss.

I’m converting a hard top into a convertible top, and while I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on how I’m going to create the top bows, it will require that the seams be added afterwards.

Doing it with plastic strip and filler will be an issue as I would be gluing plastic over existing fill, and I’m pretty certain that would create a mess.

My solution is to lay a piece of thin, wide tape down the center of the top to create the seams, but I need a tape with no texture because I don’t plan on covering the entire top with it, and it needs to be something that can be painted over and will withstand the test of time.

My first thought is to use a duct tape, or some sort of packing tape, but I’m not sure.

It has to accept paint, and it needs to be sticky and stable enough so that it will hold up for many years

No, I don’t want to use masking tape because, for one reason, I don’t want the texture, and I don’t particularly trust that it won’t lift down the road, so please, don’t suggest it.

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

For the required smooth, thin and stable requirements, I would recommend genuine 3M Scotch tape. You can slice it just like you do BMF after applying it. There are some vinyl tapes out there but, I would be concerned with their (excess) thickness and adhesive stability.

[NOBLNG]

How about BMF? May be a little thin…but there are different versions that may be thicker. Or possibly multiple layers?

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Bills72sj said:

For the required smooth, thin and stable requirements, I would recommend genuine 3M Scotch tape. You can slice it just like you do BMF after applying it. There are some vinyl tapes out there but, I would be concerned with their (excess) thickness and adhesive stability.

Scotch tape is textured.

That’s why a lot of guys use it for vinyl tops.

 

 

 

Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

How about BMF? May be a little thin…but there are different versions that may be thicker. Or possibly multiple layers?

I believe that would be too thin.

One coat of paint would pretty much eliminate an edge.
 

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Scotch tape is textured.

That’s why a lot of guys use it for vinyl tops.

 

 

 

Steve

I was referring to Scotch transparent tape. Not Scotch masking tape.

[StevenGuthmiller]

20 minutes ago, Bills72sj said:

I was referring to Scotch transparent tape. Not Scotch masking tape.

Oh, I got you.

But, I don’t think I’d trust that to stay in place for very long.

most of these cellophane tapes aren’t very pliable, and the adhesive is not particularly strong.

I just picture everything that I’ve ever tried to hang on a wall with this kind of tape laying on the floor within a couple of days. ?

 

 

 

Steve

[stitchdup]

Tamiya corner tape. its white stretchy tape with a smooth finish or you could try aluminium heating tape. Its similar to bmf in appearance but its much thicker and once its stuck its on for good. I'm not sure how it would hold paint though as i suspect it has a protective coating on it so that might affect some paints. it comes on large rolls and it has other modelling uses. It does crinkle easily

Edited November 27, 2023 by stitchdup

[Bugatti Fan]

Art suppliers may be a very good source of extremely fine thickness vinyl tape in widths right down to 1/32nd or 1/16th of an inch.

A!ternatively, Washi Tape (a thin smooth paper masking tape) can be stuck to a glass surface (I use an old halogen security lamp lens for this) and it can be cut into thin strips with a sharp scalpel and steel engineers rule.

[camaro69]

Hi Steve,

I think Orafol cutted into the width you need could be a possible option. It´s mainly used by advertising companies and even on 1:1 cars for foiling so it should stick well.

With a little warming you can lay it smooth on the areas you want to have it and with some water underneath it you even have time to bring it into the right position.

I already used this to create the seams for vinyl tops and it worked very well.

Rico

 

P. S.: I can send you some leftover pieces if you want. If so feel free to send me a PM. 

Edited November 27, 2023 by camaro69
Added something

[peteski]

In my experience all the masking tapes I have ever used, have adhesive which is not designed for long term use.  After some time (it  might take few years) the adhesive either dries up and loses adhesive quality, or gets gooey and sort of melts, spreading out from under the tape. I would not use any of those as a permanent part of my model.

I have not done any testing (or long term real-use examples) of any of the Washi-type tapes (like Tamiya masking tape).

[peteski]

On 11/27/2023 at 7:20 AM, camaro69 said:

I think Orafol cutted into the width you need could be a possible option. It´s mainly used by advertising companies and even on 1:1 cars for foiling so it should stick well.

That sounds like a good idea.  Yes, this stuff is used for permanent graphic wraps or other stickers applied to 1:1 vehicles.  The plastic film and the adhesive are designed for long term use.

[Bills72sj]

How about water slide decal paper? A couple of layers ought to do it.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

 

On 11/27/2023 at 6:20 AM, camaro69 said:

Hi Steve,

I think Orafol cutted into the width you need could be a possible option. It´s mainly used by advertising companies and even on 1:1 cars for foiling so it should stick well.

With a little warming you can lay it smooth on the areas you want to have it and with some water underneath it you even have time to bring it into the right position.

I already used this to create the seams for vinyl tops and it worked very well.

Rico

 

P. S.: I can send you some leftover pieces if you want. If so feel free to send me a PM. 

I'm investigating this option, but I was wondering if you, or anyone else knows of the thickness of this product.

 

 

 

I can get a package of this on Amazon for about $10.00.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[camaro69]

Hi Steve,

after a little research I can tell you that its thickness is about 0.06mm. If you can find some of the Oracal 631 it´s a little bit thicker round about 0.075mm.

My offer for sending you some leftover pieces for at least much more then one model still stands. Here 2 samples...

On the Cuda i did the Hockey stripes with this nearly 20 years ago now and clearcoated right out of a rattlecan...

and on the NSX the white stripes over the body.

Cheers, Rico

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by camaro69
added some pictures

[Kit Basher]

Another source for vinyl similar to the Oracal is sign makers. They use a fairly heavy vinyl to cut out signs. Whatever is not part of the sign gets thrown away. Those scraps should be plenty big enough for your purpose. The adhesive should not be a problem, as this stuff is intended to last many years outside. I don't know how well paint would stick to it.

[NOBLNG]

8 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

 

I'm investigating this option, but I was wondering if you, or anyone else knows of the thickness of this product?

It says 2.5mils which would be 0.0025”.  Which would be 1/16” in 1:1 scale. What about just doing a couple coats of a filler primer?

Edited November 29, 2023 by NOBLNG

[peteski]

I get my adhesive vinyl material (scraps) from a local sign shop.

[StevenGuthmiller]

4 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

It says 2.5mils which would be 0.0025”.  Which would be 1/16” in 1:1 scale. What about just doing a couple coats of a filler primer?

Thanks Greg!

I missed the thickness on the package.

Thanks for pointing it out.

 

Filler primer?

Jees!! Why didn't I think of that?!!

 

Once the rest of the modification work is finished, I could just mask the sides of the roof and spray however many coats of filler needed to create the thickness I want down the center!

GENIUS!

 

Thanks Greg!!

I think we may have a winner!

 

 

 

Steve

[NOBLNG]

2 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Thanks Greg!!

I think we may have a winner!

 

 

 

Steve

You’re very welcome sir! I seriously appreciate the talent and effort you put into your builds. Thank You for taking time to document them here.

Greg.

[customline]

Late to the dance again ?....thin tape, extremely sticky? Tyvek tape. Thin like scotch tape, sticky like forever.....too late I guess ?.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, customline said:

Late to the dance again ?....thin tape, extremely sticky? Tyvek tape. Thin like scotch tape, sticky like forever.....too late I guess ?.

Never too late.

Always open to other suggestions.

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Steve

[peteski]

7 hours ago, customline said:

Late to the dance again ?....thin tape, extremely sticky? Tyvek tape. Thin like scotch tape, sticky like forever.....too late I guess ?.

Isn't Tyvek rather slippery plastic? Will paint stick to it well. or will it rub off during handling?

[customline]

8 minutes ago, peteski said:

Isn't Tyvek rather slippery plastic? Will paint stick to it well. or will it rub off during handling?

Yes it's pretty slick but it's pretty darn sticky. It's 2" wide and it's thin like Scotch tape. I can't attest to its ability to hold paint. One would need to experiment. I've only used it to tape seams on Tyvek sheeting (some sort of plastic.) And I put a cardboard spray booth together with a half a roll that's been out in the garage for about ten years. Still like new. Great stuff. It was just a suggestion. I suppose if it was me, I would use a primer made for plastic to test it.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Isn't Tyvek rather slippery plastic? Will paint stick to it well. or will it rub off during handling?

That is true.

It feels a lot like wax paper.

Something makes me think not really compatible with paint.

So far, I’m still thinking a couple of coats of primer filler is my likely avenue.

 

 

Steve

Edited December 1, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller