How to paint with the best results possible?

[Tom]

Hey Josh, before you apply your masking tape, I would strongly advise re-cutting the edges of the tape. For instance, get yourself a small piece of plate glass, apply the tape to the glass and using a steel ruler and a sharp, fresh X-acto blade, recut the edges of your tape (rather than rely on the factory cut edge) and then apply the tape to your model to mask it. Also get yourself a wooden coffee stirer or popsicle stick to burnish the edges of the tape to the model real well to avoid bleed under.