[Text to curves node manipulation]

In Draw Plus I used to be able to do some image manipulation from text converted to curves. (Unfortunately I cannot upload an example as it will not open with Affinity.)

The steps were:

1. insert image 
2. add art text above image
3. select both and crop to shape
4. convert to curves
5. with node tool pull the curves around.

This left a graphic which could be manipulated in such a way that curves could be pulled around. Where the outside edge of the letter was pulled across the flood colour was pulled across. If the edge was pulled over one of the other letters, the coloured area of the second letter would go white, and if you continued pulling past the letter, colour would appear again. 

 

So far, I am unable to do this with Affinity. The closest I have come is to do the above steps 1 and 2, then to Mask to below. The letters are then filled with the image below, and can be converted to curves, but the behaviour at this point does not replicate that of Draw Plus. The edges can be pulled out, but the interaction with the other letters, specifically the white where another letter is crossed, does not occur. I've tried 

 

Please can anyone help? I use this design tool a lot in graphics.

Many thanks.

Jerry