1:32 Fw-190A-8/F-8 wheel bay paint masks

Wheel bay masks for the Fw 190A-8 and F-8 in 1:32 scale from QMT

Die-cut self-adhesive masks for painting the wheel bays of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in the A-8 and F-8 versions in 1:32 scale. It is an aid to painting, not a kit or a spare part: the mask holds a sharp boundary between the shade of the inside of the bay and the finish of the surrounding areas. The number of pieces in the package and the extent of the coverage are stated on the manufacturer's packaging.

Where the mask belongs in the painting sequence

With wheel bays the order of the work runs against ordinary intuition. The inside is sprayed first: a filler primer, then the shade of the bay, and a fine accent for depth if you wish. Only once this coat is hard does the mask come into play, and the outer camouflage is done over it. The gear doors are worth dealing with separately, off the model, because their inner and outer sides are in different colors and they are hard to reach once assembled. The landing gear legs and struts are glued on at the very end, otherwise they are in the way during masking.

Usage tips

Let the paint under the mask cure overnight, not merely dry to the touch. Seat the mask with tweezers and run a blunt tip along the edge so that the adhesive seats even in the corners. Spray in several thin coats and aim perpendicular to the edge; an angled pass will get the paint under the edge of the mask. The A-8 and F-8 versions differed mainly in their equipment and their external stores, but that has no effect on painting the wheel bays, and the procedure is the same for both.

Who the set is for

• Builders of late version Fw 190s in 1:32 scale
• Modelers who paint wheel bays with an airbrush
• Anyone interested in a clean separation of colors without touching up by brush
• Those who build several machines of the A-8 and F-8 series and want a consistent result

The package contains masks only. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the delivery.