1:35 British Light Utility Car 10hp - Tamiya

1:35 British 10hp light utility car wheel masking set, Tamiya kit

This is a painting accessory, not a model of the vehicle. The masks mark out the border between tire and rim and replace hand lining with a brush. The cutouts match the wheels from the 1:35 scale British light utility car kit by Tamiya.

Checking the concentricity once the mask is off

A sharp edge does not mean the job is done. A mask can be stuck down perfectly and bonded all the way around, yet sit slightly off the center of the wheel — and then you get a ring that is wider on one side than on the other. On a wheel lying loose on the bench almost nobody notices. But as soon as the wheels are on the vehicle and you turn the model, the eye picks up at once that the width of the tire band differs from wheel to wheel. Check it right after unmasking: spike the wheel on a toothpick passing through the axle hole and turn it slowly against the light. If the width of the ring changes, the mask sat off the axis. The repair is simpler than it sounds — respray the wheel in the tire shade, let it dry and mask a second time, this time centering on the axle hole rather than on the outer edge. Put every wheel through the same check at once and compare them side by side; differences are far easier to find in a group than one at a time.

Practical tips

Prime the wheels and center the mask on the axle hole. Spray thin coats square from above and remove the mask once the paint has flashed off, pulling it across the edge.

Who the set is for

• Builders of British utility vehicles in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who care about every wheel looking the same
• Those who paint with an airbrush and want to do without touch-ups
• Diorama builders whose vehicle is seen from every side

This is a masking accessory, not a kit. Paints, thinner and the target kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.