1:35 Paint mask Leopard 2A6 (RFM)

Masking set 1:35 Leopard 2A6

The set belongs among the aids to painting. The masks are cut to the shape of the surfaces that are to stay unpainted after spraying, and they are stuck onto a model of the tank in 1:35 scale that is already under way.

Where the mask belongs in the order of painting

With a tank the usual sequence is this: filler primer, then the base shade, then the camouflage scheme, gloss varnish under the decals, decals, matte varnish and finally the weathering. It makes sense to apply the mask right at the start, before the filler primer, and to leave it in place until the camouflage has been sprayed. That does away with the most unpleasant part of the work: outlining the frames with a brush between the individual shades.

Use

• Apply the mask before the filler primer is sprayed, not after the camouflage.
• Before removing it, wait until the last coat of paint has dried through, but not until the varnish has cured completely.
• Do the weathering and the washes only after the mask has been taken off, or the pigment will settle along its edge.
• With matte varnish, check the masked edge against the light once it is uncovered; there tends to be a slight step there.
• Put the rest of the sheet aside, as it comes in handy for small additional masking.

Who the set is for

For a builder of modern tanks who wants the glazing and the vision blocks sharp and does not want to be correcting them with a brush after every coat of paint.