1:72 Vildebeest Mk.III

Vildebeest Mk.III masking set 1:72: Peewit

A set of precisely cut self-adhesive masks for a model of the British Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III torpedo biplane in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit but an addition: the masks are stuck onto the glazed areas, above all the screens of the open cockpits, so that they stay clear during painting and the frames have a sharp edge. The material is a low-tack masking tape that follows the shape of the part and leaves no glue behind when it is removed. On the small areas of a biplane, where a knife is awkward to use, a pre-cut mask saves a great deal of time.

The real subject

The Vickers Vildebeest was a British single-engined torpedo bomber of the 1930s, in design still a biplane with a fixed undercarriage and open cockpits. The Mk.III version was a three-seater. Although it was already obsolete when the Second World War broke out, it served with British units in the Far East and was still used in the fighting for Malaya and Singapore.

Use and tips

Degrease the clear part and let it dry. Transfer the mask with tweezers, lay it in place and press the edges down so that no paint runs under them. Spray the shade of the frames from the inside first, then the outer color according to the scheme. Remove the masks once the paint has dried, with fine-tipped tweezers at a shallow angle. On a biplane it is sensible to do the masking before the struts and rigging are fitted, while access to the parts is better.

Who the set is for

• Builders of British interwar biplanes
• Modelers who want clean edges on the framing without cutting tape by hand
• Anyone building small models in 1:72 scale
• Beginners who find masking glazing difficult

This is an addition for building a model. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.