1:144 An-124 Painting mask (REV)

1:144 Antonov An-124 – masking stencils for spraying

This set from the manufacturer SX-Art holds self-adhesive stencils for spraying the color scheme on a model of the An-124 heavy transport aircraft in 1:144 scale. The stencils define the shapes that are airbrushed, so the colored areas are made by spraying and not by a decal. This product has nothing to do with covering the flight deck glazing.

The real subject

The An-124 is a four-engine heavy transport aircraft with a high wing, designed by the Antonov design bureau. The cargo hold is accessible through the upward-hinging nose and through the rear ramp, which makes it possible to load bulky and heavy cargo. The landing gear has many wheels and the aircraft was used in both military and civil cargo service.

Transitions on a high-wing aircraft

A high-wing aircraft with a massive fuselage has one complication more than an airliner: the dividing line often runs across the wing root and across the markedly rounded side of the fuselage. In such a place the stencil tries to lift, and that is exactly where paint creeps under it. So work in sections: lay the film on, press it down first along the straight passage and work it into the curve gradually, if need be with short cuts in the surplus margin so that the film can follow the shape. Apply the paint in several thin coats and, around the wing root, spray from the edge inwards rather than the other way. On large areas it is advisable to keep the order from light to dark, because overspraying light onto dark is harder to correct. Take the stencil off once the paint has set and check the edge against the light before weathering.

Who the set is for

• builders of transport aircraft in 1:144 scale
• modelers who want to master the edge at the wing root
• airbrush users working with large models
• those who prefer spraying to large-area decals

This is a building accessory, not a model. Paints, glue and the kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.