AT-ECA Masking Tape Cutting Mat type A, 110x233 mm (Arc Patterns)

The DSPIAE AT-ECA cutting mat with arcs

An acrylic board with guide grooves in the shape of arcs of various radii, engraved into both faces. The tape is stuck onto the mat, the knife is run along a groove and an arced edge appears that you would not make the same twice freehand. That is precisely why this pattern is used for soft transitions between camouflage fields and for wavy boundaries between colors.

The workmanship

Grooves on both faces mean that the board can be turned over and used on, once one side has been cut up. Acrylic meets the blade with less resistance than metal, so the knife does not go blunt as much and the cut can be made with minimal pressure.

How to work with it

• Stick the tape across the arc you have chosen and press it down so that no air is left underneath.
• Run the knife along the groove repeatedly and lightly; a heavy stroke throws the blade out of the groove.
• Lift the cut strip off with tweezers and transfer it straight onto the model.
• Wipe the grooves now and then, as adhesive from the tape settles in them.

Who it is for

The mat will be used above all by those who spray multicolor camouflage with wavy boundaries on aircraft and vehicles. It also comes into play when masking curved covers and the transitions between fuselage and wing. Alongside tape it will handle thin film and self-adhesive paper.

The patterns of the individual boards in the range do not overlap, so the sister versions are needed for angular and round shapes. The blade in the groove points toward the hand holding the tape, so always cut away from yourself and keep the mat on a stable surface.