Masking For Checkerboards?

There's a method of masking for checkerboards using criss-crossing strips of masking tape, in two applications, I think.
I included it in the NEST newsletter sometime back in the early 90's, but have lost the article.

Can anyone shed any light on how this is done?

Rick Campbell

LAST EDITED ON Mar-31-04 AT 07:56 PM (CDT)
 
This is only one way, and the way I did this Magnums underside in one very warm afternoon. I hope the picture tell's the story.

I masked off the wing panels into rows having the required spacing for the checks. The masking is installed in a "mask one row,..skip a row" fashion due to the fact that the row in between will be fouled by the masking of the other rows that boarder it.

What you end up with after the first passes with the gun (masking removed) are squares on you wing panels sitting there like islands in the sun.

Once the first sittings paint is dry do the same row technique again,..only move over one row. You now will be masking over the squares you completed in the first round. See the attachment. Not shown is all the "filler masking" required to protect the area's not to be touched. With the row masking in place I managed to save the "masking blankets" I used to pull service for the second round of squares, ?(round of squares?,,ha ha.)

HTH

PRETTY!
These are TOUGH on compound curved surfaces.
I remember reading that the (full size) aircraft painter that did the checkerboard paint scheme on the late Ed Wiener's P-51 "Miss Bardhal" laid it out four times before he finally got it right and sprayed it. He swore he'd never do another one again.

Jake