1:35 Pz Kpfw IV H (late) - Dragon

1:35 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H late wheel masking set (Quickwheel)

The package holds self-adhesive masking masks for the road wheels, not model parts. Once they are in place only the rubber stays exposed, so it can be sprayed in one go and the border between it and the rim is set by the cut of the mask. The set is prepared for the wheels from the Dragon kit.

How the masks relate to the matte varnish that comes later

Wheels are rarely finished with a single color; a wash into the recesses of the rim usually follows, and then a unifying matte varnish at the very end. The order matters, and the masked edge plays its part in it. Matte varnish evens out differences in sheen, but it does nothing for differences in the sharpness of an edge; if anything it emphasizes them, because a matte surface scatters the light and a blurred transition starts to look even vaguer. Spraying a sharp edge against a mask is therefore worth most precisely when you intend to finish with matte varnish. The second connection is technical: take the masks off and let the paint cure thoroughly before any varnish goes on the wheel. Varnishing over a coat that is still fresh risks dragging it, and under a mask the paint cures more slowly than on an open surface.

Usage tips

Paint the wheels separately from the hull. Press the mask down all the way around, spray the rubber in thin coats and take the mask off once the paint has flashed off. Apply the wash and the matte varnish only to fully cured paint.

Who the set is for

• Builders of German tracked vehicles in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who finish their wheels with a wash and matte varnish
• Those who want a sharp transition even under a matte surface
• Anyone after a consistent look across all the road wheels

The package holds masking masks, not model parts. Paints, varnishes and glue are not part of the delivery.