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This is a pretty broad question but I think would be handy in many different situations. I'll explain first what I am trying to do. While painting my Eldar jetbikes I have decided to go with a people on the front shield area with the sides of the shield being yellow, and then a line about 1\8 to 1\16 inch thick running diagonally across the center. The issue I am having is finding the best way to paint these straight lines. Free hand is pretty much out, I do not have the talent to do that. I tried using painters tape in the hope it would not trip there paint off, which is precisely what happened. Even when I put a gloss on the tape it still took the paint off. Does anyone have an easy way of doing this?

I use scotch tape it's cheap and it isn't very sticky so it comes off easily

Tamyia tape
Self Etching primer
24 hours between coats of paint.

A.

Masking tapes are generally meant for more robust surfaces, like latex/emulsion house paint on a wall. Try sticking it to another surface (some people recommend using your forehead, others a T-shirt, others the table or cutting mat) a few times, first, to reduce the tack. Specialty modeling masks like Tamiya tape or frisket film are another option - pricier, but they're more flexible and are already low-tack. Varnishing before masking is still a good idea, but as Redfinger suggests, a good primer underneath and plenty of cure time will do more to keep your paint intact than a varnish over the top - doesn't matter if the layers stick together if the whole "stack" pops off the model.

You can get low tack masking tape from all decoratos merchants, just make sure you make a clean cut with a sharp blade and you'll be fine.