1:72 Beagle Basset 206

Peewit 1:72 Beagle Basset 206 - set of painting masks

This is not a kit, but an accessory for the build. The package brings painting masks for a model of the British twin-engine Beagle Basset 206 aircraft in 1:72 scale. The masks are stuck onto the parts before spraying and taken off once the paint has dried, so the framing of the glazing and the color transitions stay sharp, with no laborious hand-trimming of tape. Shape-accurate masks are the fastest way to avoid paint creeping under an edge in a small scale.

The real subject

The Beagle B.206 is a British all-metal twin-engine aircraft from the first half of the 1960s, built as a light transport and liaison machine with retractable nose gear. In the Royal Air Force it served under the name Basset for carrying passengers and for liaison duties, while in civilian form it was used as an executive aircraft by smaller operators. For modelers it is interesting mainly for the extensive cabin glazing and the clean, smooth surfaces, on which every imperfection in the paint shows up at once.

Tips for sticking the masks down and spraying

First degrease the surface under the mask and let the base color cure completely. Press the mask down all the way around, ideally with a toothpick or a wooden stick, so the edge does not lift anywhere. Spray in thin coats - a heavy coat creates a step at the edge that is visible once the mask is removed. Take the mask off soon after the paint has flashed off, pulling it at an angle to the side rather than straight up; that lowers the risk of the paint peeling off with it.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build aircraft in 1:72 scale and want clean glazing
• anyone for whom masking with tape takes more time than the build itself
• builders of British aviation hardware of the postwar period
• beginners who are still learning to spray sharp edges

The package contains masks only. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.