1:35 Italian C1 Ariete MBT - Trumpeter

1:35 Italian C1 Ariete MBT wheel masking set (Quickwheel, for the Trumpeter kit)

A masking sheet that separates the rubber tire band on the road wheel from the rim during painting. This is neither a kit nor a replacement wheel, but an accessory for the painting stage. The cutouts are cut for the wheels from the model of the Italian C1 Ariete main battle tank by Trumpeter.

Care with resin replacement wheels

Plenty of modelers replace plastic road wheels with resin sets carrying finer detail. The mask, however, is based on the dimensions of the wheels in the target kit and not on the dimensions of the replacement parts, and a deviation of a few tenths of a millimeter already shows on the edge of the tire band. Before ordering, and again before sticking anything down, hold the mask against the resin wheel dry and compare whether the cutout matches the diameter of the tire band. The second issue is the surface. Resin castings carry mold release agent residue, on which masking adhesive holds considerably worse than on washed plastic, so washing and thorough drying are mandatory here, not optional. Resin also tends to be smoother, which looks like an advantage but in fact means less grip, so always press the mask down firmly all the way around once it is in place. If the dimensions do not meet, it is more honest to reach for the wheels from the kit than to tune the border by hand and lose the main advantage of the mask.

Procedure

Clean the wheels, degrease them and let them dry. Paint the rim, mask once it has dried, spray the tire band in thin coats and take the mask off while the paint has flashed off.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the C1 Ariete tank in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want a sharp border on every wheel of the running gear
• Those weighing up resin replacement wheels and wanting to know the risks in advance
• Anyone wanting to avoid lining tire bands by hand

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