1:72 Short Sunderland Mk.I wheels and canopy frame paint mask

Kits-World 1:72 Short Sunderland Mk.I, masks for the wheels and the frames of the glazing

Pre-cut masking stencils for painting a model of the Short Sunderland Mk.I in 1:72 scale. According to the name the set deals with two things: the wheels and the frames of the glazing. It is not a kit or a spare part but an accessory that saves a great deal of frustration in a small scale, because going round the canopy frames and the dividing line on the wheels with a brush is hard.

The real subject

The Short Sunderland was a British four-engine flying boat with a tall boat-shaped hull, used for long patrol flights over the sea. The Mk.I version was the first production form. Because the machine took off from water, its wheels came in the form of removable beaching gear on which it was pulled up onto the shore, and kits therefore usually include them.

Why on the Sunderland in particular

The Sunderland has an above-average number of glazed areas, and a large hull also means a long painting job. Masked glazing moreover stays clean while the surrounding areas are sprayed, which matters on a model this large, because the airbrush returns to the hull again and again.

How to work with the masks

• Wash and degrease the glazing and the wheels before masking.
• Lift the masks from the sheet with a scalpel and lay them on dry, without pulling.
• On the wheels a mask separates the disc from the tire, so you spray both at once.
• Spray in thin coats, as a thick coat will seep under the edge.
• With the large hull of a flying boat, think the order of the colors through in advance, so that the masks do not have to go on twice.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Sunderland in 1:72, who face a lot of glazed areas.
• Modelers who want a clean transition between disc and tire.
• Anyone who paints with an airbrush and does not want to cut tape by hand.

This is an accessory to a model, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.