1:72 Spitfire Mk.X/Mk.XI wheel-bay paint masking plugs

What the plugs are for

A wheel bay is one of the few cavities on a model that cannot simply be taped over. It has an irregular shape, it is deep, and paint gets into it through even a thin gap. Lining it from the inside with pieces of tape or stuffing it with cotton wool costs a lot of time and the result tends to be inexact. Shaped plugs shorten that work: they go into the opening before spraying, close it off, and are taken out again once it is sprayed.

What the set solves

The set is listed for the Spitfire in the Mk.X and Mk.XI forms in 1:72 scale and concerns the masking of the wheel bays while painting. The inside of the bay then stays in the shade you sprayed first, and the external surface of the wing is sprayed without islands of oversprayed paint inside. The work saved tells above all at a small scale, where the opening is barely bigger than a fingernail and tweezers with a piece of tape are hard to turn in it. How many plugs are in the package and which belongs where is stated by the manufacturer on the box.

Work tips

• paint the bay first and let it dry thoroughly, and only then put the plug in
• seat the plug so that it is flush with the surrounding surface and presses on no thin edges
• spray thin coats; a heavy coat of paint flows into the gap around the edge
• take the plug out while the paint is freshly dry, not after several days
• keep the plugs once cleaned, as they can be used on another model of the same type

Terms of supply

A masking set is supplied. The model, paints and masking tape are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.