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AFV Painting & Weathering
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REVIEW
Miracle Masks
Maki
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Posted: Friday, November 29, 2013 - 07:50 AM UTC
This review shows custom designed Miracle Masks and their application on a 1/35 scale model. Painting markings with Miracle Masks is very easy and gives extremely realistic results in scale.



Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
LeoCmdr
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Posted: Friday, November 29, 2013 - 01:19 PM UTC
A few questions...

1. How much did it cost you?

2. How many call signs did you get on the mask sheet?

3. Does the mask sheet only supply one type of marking? It appears that way on your review sheet.

Maki
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Posted: Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 01:19 AM UTC
Jason, sorry for the late reply.


Quoted Text

1. How much did it cost you?



This sheet was 5GBP, with me supplying my own artwork... if Mal had to design the complete marking himself, the price would have been higher. The price really depends on what is required, how complex the design is, etc.

Also, I forgot to mention it in the review: Kitmaker members get a 10% discount.


Quoted Text

2. How many call signs did you get on the mask sheet?



I designed three slightly different sizes of the same marking. I got 32 masks of each marking size. All together 96 masks... not bad for 5GBP, eh?


Quoted Text

3. Does the mask sheet only supply one type of marking? It appears that way on your review sheet.



Yes, because this was the only marking I needed to finish up this particular project. I didn't know about Miracle Masks at the time I started painting the vehicle so I did not include any of the other markings I already painted. Cutting all the masks for the model would not raise the price significantly, though.

Mario
SdAufKla
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Posted: Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 02:20 AM UTC
Mario,

This is very interesting. I only just learned about Miracle Masks a few days ago from a thread on another forum.

Could you tell us what kind of art work you provided for your masks - what program you used to create it and did you provide it in electronic form (soft copy) or hard copy? Are there standard specifications that Miracle Mask wants, and what about artwork for multi-colored markings?

Also, the pricing on you job - How are the dimensions and number of different markings of the job related to the total cost? Are jobs priced by the overall final size regardless of the number of individual markings, or is the job priced by the number of different markings with overall sheet dimensions not a big issue?

I would assume that if the proprietor has to do the artwork that there's no way to tell the cost of that portion of the job since the variables are too great. However, is there a more-or-less standard pricing schedule for jobs with the artwork provided by the customer?

I only ask because this is an intriguing option, and it's certainly something that I'd very seriously consider for future projects. I do believe that I could get the artwork done on my end if I knew some more about what was required.

Thanks!
Littorio
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Posted: Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 03:28 AM UTC
Mike, you may want to ask Mal yourself. His call sign is 'Holdfast' and he can normally be found over on Aeroscale the wingy section of the Kitmaker network or failing that the Kitmaker British Bulldogs.

Click my IPMS UK badge on my header and it takes you to the Bulldogs page.
Maki
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Posted: Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 06:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Could you tell us what kind of art work you provided for your masks - what program you used to create it and did you provide it in electronic form (soft copy) or hard copy?



I used Corel Draw for the artwork and sent a file to Mal via email. I'm not sure about standard specifications or artwork for multi-colored markings... I pointed Mal to this thread, so I hope he'll respond to this ont.

Regarding the pricing, as Luciano advised, that would be best to negotiate with Mal direcly. I'm in no way connected to the company, just a really happy customer.

I definitely understand how intriguing the masking option is. I have to say, masking is something I would gladly accept over decals anytime, even if I had to spend some more $$$ on the masks.

Mario
Robbd01
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Posted: Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 06:52 AM UTC
I agree with you, Mal can be a miracle. I had Mal make me a custom set of masks a few months back for a project I have been wanting to do for decades. Here was my post

https://archive.kitmaker.net/forums/210130

Cheers

SdAufKla
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Posted: Monday, December 02, 2013 - 02:51 AM UTC
Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

I'll see what develops, perhaps getting together with several other members of my AMPS chapter and putting together the art-work for several subjects on a single job.

Cheers,
Holdfast
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IPMS-UK KITMAKER BRANCH
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Posted: Monday, December 02, 2013 - 03:24 AM UTC
Hi Guys
I have done a few target related masks, the "Disc Camo" sold by AK interactive and Uschi van der Rosten was produced by me I have done a few other masks for armour related stuff but, as I model aircraft myself and therefor know more about them I have tended to be known for doing masks for them. However masks for armour related subjects are not a problem.

I do have many orders in the pipeline, and more coming in all the time so I am looking at producing a line of masks for some, if not most of the modelling genre.

As it says on my business card:
I may not be able to produce masks for your project, but if you don't ask neither of us will know, I'm here to help

My email address is [email protected]
CMOT
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Posted: Monday, December 02, 2013 - 03:36 AM UTC
Mal how do you feel your masks would cope with zimmerit? Zimmerit being a very rough surface makes decal application a pain the butt and would be an area your masks would opften be put to task.
SdAufKla
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Posted: Monday, December 02, 2013 - 07:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

... I have done a few target related masks, the "Disc Camo" sold by AK interactive and Uschi van der Rosten was produced by me. ...



That's very interesting, Mal. I actually have a build blog and a feature here on Armorama that used the Uschi masks. I was quite pleased with the way they worked, and now have a very good idea of what your products look like and how they work.

Armorama::Build Blog::DML #6370 Panther Ausf. G with AM-Works PE

Armorama::Feature::PzKpfW V 'Panther' Ausf. G,
by Mike Roof


Good stuff! I'll be looking for an opportunity to work up an order.

Happy modeling!
LeoCmdr
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Posted: Monday, December 02, 2013 - 08:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Jason, sorry for the late reply.


Quoted Text

1. How much did it cost you?



This sheet was 5GBP, with me supplying my own artwork... if Mal had to design the complete marking himself, the price would have been higher. The price really depends on what is required, how complex the design is, etc.

Also, I forgot to mention it in the review: Kitmaker members get a 10% discount.


Quoted Text

2. How many call signs did you get on the mask sheet?



I designed three slightly different sizes of the same marking. I got 32 masks of each marking size. All together 96 masks... not bad for 5GBP, eh?


Quoted Text

3. Does the mask sheet only supply one type of marking? It appears that way on your review sheet.



Yes, because this was the only marking I needed to finish up this particular project. I didn't know about Miracle Masks at the time I started painting the vehicle so I did not include any of the other markings I already painted. Cutting all the masks for the model would not raise the price significantly, though.

Mario



Thanks for the info Mario...the wheels are already turning in my head for some custom mask ideas.
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