1:35 Pz. II / Marder II - DRAGON

Masks for the road wheels of the Pz. II and the Marder II in 1:35 scale

These are masking elements for wheels, not parts of a model. They are applied to the wheels molded in the kit and serve to give the rubber tire and the wheel each its own shade with a sharp transition. The set is cut for the kits of the Pz. II and the Marder II from the Dragon company, which share the same chassis. The material of the masks, their number and the dimensions of the sheet are stated on the box of the set.

The consistency of the paint and running under

The most common cause of a poor edge is not the mask but the paint. Paint that is too thin will run by capillary action under the margin even where the mask seats, while paint that is too thick will create a ridge at the edge that looks like a step once the mask is off. The ideal is paint thinned so that at medium pressure it covers in two or three passes. Spray at a right angle to the face of the wheel and rather from the margin toward the center than across the edge. The so-called sealing of the edge helps as well: a first very light pass in the shade that is on the wheel under the mask, and any run-under is then not visible.

Practical notes

• Degrease the wheel before masking, as grease from the fingers makes the mask hold less well.
• Press the margin of the mask down with a toothpick around the whole perimeter.
• Keep the pressure on the airbrush rather low and use more layers than one heavy pass.
• Store the remainder of the sheet flat and out of direct light, so that the adhesive does not harden.

Who the set is for

For builders of armored hardware in 1:35 scale who spray with an airbrush and want their wheels dealt with quickly and uniformly. The set calls for no advanced skills, only for keeping to the procedure when thinning the paint.

The set contains masks only. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.