Artwox AM30001A The Imperial Chinese Navy "Chih Yuen"

The real subject

Chih Yuen was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Chinese Navy built at the Elswick shipyard in Britain. She belonged to the fast, lightly armored cruisers of the kind then built for export, and she became known for her end in the naval battle at the Yalu River in 1894, where she went down with her commander. A model of this cruiser in 1:144 scale is a rewarding subject, because it joins a wooden deck to a slender hull and a generous superstructure.

What the set contains

Masks for the deck of a model in the scale mentioned. They cover the areas that are to stay in a different shade, so the boundary between the deck and the surrounding parts stays sharp and you do not have to finish it laboriously with a brush. The masks are shaped for this particular ship, so set every part exactly where it belongs and keep checking against the kit instructions.

How to work with the masks

• Degrease the surface thoroughly before masking and let it dry.
• Stick the masks down before spraying and press their edges in particular, so that no paint runs underneath.
• Spray in thin coats and from above, not at an angle under the edge of the mask.
• Take the mask off as soon as the paint is touch-dry; a sharp point helps lift a corner without damaging the finish.

Who it is for

The set will be appreciated by builders of ship models who care about a clean transition of colors on the deck, and by anyone who would rather avoid masking complicated outlines with tape. The ship model itself, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.