If I’ve needed to mask a model I’ve always used the white ‘decorators’ masking tape commonly sold in DIY or bargain shops.

I’ve never understood why I needed anything else. It’s easily available, inexpensive and I have it at home already.

I guess I’m rather suspicious of these products that are ‘designed especially for modellers’.

Recently I needed some 1mm wide strips of masking tape to mask this loco. I didn’t fancy cutting the decorators masking tape into thin strips so in a moment of weakness I brought some modellers masking tape.

What I learnt:

• Pleasure to use
• Perfect, consistent 1mm width along the whole length
• Easy to position
• Stays firmly in place
• Masks paint well
• Doesn’t leave a sticky residue when you remove it

Plus it only cost £3.30 for 18 metres! And 18 metres is a lot of masking…

I must admit I’m sold. I’ll use modellers masking tape for all my fiddly masking jobs from now on.