1:144 Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot

Peewit 1:144 Sukhoi Su-25 - masking stencils

This Peewit masking set for the Su-25 attack aircraft in 1:144 scale simplifies the trickiest part of painting: separating the clear canopy from the surrounding camouflage. The cut stencils only have to be laid on, sprayed over and lifted off once dry - the result is sharp frame lines even on a model that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.

The real subject

The Sukhoi Su-25, NATO reporting name Frogfoot, is a Soviet subsonic attack aircraft built around a heavily protected cockpit. From the outset the design reckoned with fire from the ground: an armored tub protects the pilot and the two engines are separated from each other so that a hit on one does not put the other out of action. The type proved itself from the 1980s in many conflicts and in various versions still flies with a number of air forces today.

The masking procedure

Degrease the surface before applying the stencils and make sure that neither paint nor decals in that area are fresh. Settle the mask from the center toward the edges, press the air bubbles out and push the edges down with a soft tip. Spray thin coats; once the stencil is off, you can touch in any small details with a fine brush.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Su-25 in 1:144 scale
• Modelers working with an airbrush
• Collectors of Soviet attack aircraft
• Anyone held up by masking by hand

Camouflage on the attack aircraft

The Su-25 usually carried multicolor camouflage with fairly soft transitions, which at this scale is sprayed with heavily thinned paint at low pressure. A masked canopy holds a sharp boundary exactly where one is needed, so you can concentrate fully on the flowing patches on the fuselage.