NSRing July/August 2012 issue arrived

[rogergperkins]

As a retiree from 3M, I immediately noticed the article by Bill Denton about "Masking Tape Magic."
I was not surprised by the suggestion that it can be used to add window blinds to structures and passenger cars.  I have been using it in that way for several years. 
There are many other 3M tapes that work very well as window blinds or shades.   These is a line of colored electrical tapes that work well, too.  I like the dark green; it is very similar to the big window shades in my families general store.
The surgical tape is very shear and can be used to create an curtain like appearance on buildings.

If one is really ambitious, they can apply the window blinds in passenger cars at various levels of closure.

The idea of using masking tape on the roof of a plastic kit is one I employed several years ago to cover the out of scale roofing shingles on a farm house.   
Keeping on thinking of new and innovative uses, it helps my pension check. 

[peteski]

The only thing I don't like about all the various uses for self-adhesive tapes (like masking, duct or medical) is that the adhesive is not designed to be long-lasting.   Give it 10 years and it will either dry up or get all gooey and partially dissolve, making a mess all around it.  At least that is my experience.

[mark.hinds]

Same here.  My experience with tape is that the adhesives deteriorate eventually, so I no longer use them.  I want my models to last as long as I do. 

MH

[C855B]

Are you using SCOTCH brand tapes made by 3M?
I joined 3M in 1977 and retired in 2005, I am not aware of any of my model railroading uses of 3M tapes failing.

Bingo.

I have never had a 3M adhesive tape or film product fail in the way Pete and Mark describe. I have some stuff with Scotch tape on it from the '60s, and the tape is clear, pliable and otherwise just fine. A sheet of commercial Scotchlite I have left over from an automobile project in '76 is still flexible and apparently ready to use on something else, provided I can find a use for black Scotchlite (it reflects as yellow). Whenever I've had the misfortune to use (or follow others using) non-3M electrical tape, removal is always messy and gooey, with lots of adhesive transfer - but Scotch tapes? Rarely, rarely a problem, and only then if it was heated almost to melting.

Yes, I'm a 3M fan-boy, but that's from experience with a broad range of products. Good stuff.

[peteski]

Bingo.

I have never had a 3M adhesive tape or film product fail in the way Pete and Mark describe. I have some stuff with Scotch tape on it from the '60s, and the tape is clear, pliable and otherwise just fine. A sheet of commercial Scotchlite I have left over from an automobile project in '76 is still flexible and apparently ready to use on something else, provided I can find a use for black Scotchlite (it reflects as yellow). Whenever I've had the misfortune to use (or follow others using) non-3M electrical tape, removal is always messy and gooey, with lots of adhesive transfer - but Scotch tapes? Rarely, rarely a problem, and only then if it was heated almost to melting.

Yes, I'm a 3M fan-boy, but that's from experience with a broad range of products. Good stuff.

I'm also a fan of 3M products and I'm not trying to bad-mouth them.

However you are talking apples while I talk orange.   You specifically mention clear tape, Scotchlite and electrical. Those *ARE* designed to last very long time and their adhesive is designed to be long-lasting.

But here we are talking about masking tape and/or medical tape. Both of those items are specifically designed for temporary use (they are to be removed when no longer needed, after couple of days).  Their adhesive is not designed to last for years.

As far as duct tape goes, I just mentioned it because I'm so disgusted that in American culture we are programmed to think that it is a fix-it-all for everything. But in reality, all the duct tape adhesives I've encountered (I don't recall the brand names) turn into a messy goo after some time. I hate this stuff so much that you won't find this stuff in my house!    Aluminum duct tape yes, but not the standard crappy plastic/cloth duct tape!