1:35 AAVP-7A1, AAVR-7A1, LVTP-7 - Hobby Boss

1:35 AAVP-7A1, AAVR-7A1 and LVTP-7 wheel masking set (Quickwheel, for the Hobby Boss kits)

The set holds masking templates that mark out the rubber tire band on the road wheel and separate it from the rim. It is neither a kit nor a replacement wheel, but an aid for the painting stage. The cutouts are cut for the wheels of the AAVP-7A1, AAVR-7A1 and LVTP-7 amphibious carriers from Hobby Boss.

What to do with wheels partly hidden by the side skirts

On this family of vehicles the running gear is largely tucked away behind the side plates and the superstructure. That tempts you to skimp on the wheels altogether, but the result shows: covered wheels are not invisible, they are merely partly visible and at a sharp angle, so a blurred hand-drawn line catches the eye even more than it would on a wheel standing in the open. The practical answer is to paint and unmask the wheels before they go onto the hull, and only then judge what is really visible from the outside. Wheels with just a sliver showing deserve the same treatment of the border as the exposed ones; you simply need not spend time picking out their detail afterwards. The lower part of the running gear, on the other hand, which mud and dust will cover, can take a rougher approach.

Usage tips

Before masking, clear the wheels of seams and flash and degrease the surface, or the mask will not seat all the way around. Spray the paint in thin coats and preferably at lower pressure. Once the masks are off it helps to add dust and dried mud with pigments, which look natural on an amphibious vehicle and at the same time hide small imperfections.

Who the set is for

• Builders of AAV and LVTP series amphibious carriers in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want a clean rubber-to-rim border
• Those building the vehicle with the running gear left open to view
• Anyone for whom lining tire bands by hand takes needlessly long

A painting accessory, not a kit. Paints and thinners are not included in the package.