1:72 1ZM Italian Armoured Car

1:72 Italian 1ZM armored car — a Peewit masking set

A masking set from the Czech brand Peewit intended for a plastic model of the Italian 1ZM armored car in 1:72 scale. It is neither a kit nor resin parts — these are die-cut self-adhesive stencils that cover, while spraying, the areas which are to stay free of paint or in a different shade. On armored vehicles such sets are used for the glazing and the vision slits and also for the dividing lines of multicolored camouflage. The exact make-up of the sheet is not stated here, so we recommend checking that the set matches your own kit.

The real subject

The 1ZM type was an Italian armored car built on a truck chassis, with an armored body and machine gun armament in a turret. It came about during the First World War and, thanks to its rugged construction, served with Italian units long afterward, among other things in colonial and policing duties. For modelers it is an unusual subject: the tall silhouette and the simple shapes of the body let both the finish and the patina show to advantage.

Masking and painting tips

Degrease the surface before applying the mask and let it dry thoroughly. Press the mask down around its whole edge, helping it with a toothpick at the edges of the body, so that no air bubble is left anywhere. Spray the paint in thin coats; with multicolored camouflage work from the lighter shade to the darker one. Take the mask off shortly after it has dried. Once unmasked, on vehicles it pays to unify the surface with a matte varnish and only then work with washes and pigments for dust and mud.

Who the set is for

• Builders of armored subjects in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who spray with an airbrush and want crisp camouflage transitions
• Anyone interested in Italian interwar equipment
• Anyone who does not want to cut masking tape by hand

This is an accessory for a model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.