1:35 Paint mask Leopard C2 Mexas (TAKOM)

Masking set 1:35 Leopard C2 MEXAS

This is an aid to painting, not a kit. The masks are cut in advance to the shape of the surfaces that are to stay unpainted, and they are stuck onto a model of the tank in 1:35 scale that is already under way.

Taking the mask off is half the success

Most mistakes arise not while sticking it on but while peeling it off. If the mask is taken off too early, the paint still draws out and the edge smears. If it is left on the model for weeks, the adhesive dries and takes paint with it when peeled. The best moment is shortly after the last coat has dried through: lift the film at a corner with the tip of a scalpel and pull it off at an angle, low over the surface, rather than straight up.

Use

• Lift the corner of the mask with the point of a new blade, as a blunt tip will score the surface.
• Pull the film off slowly and at an acute angle to the surface, never with a jerk.
• Wipe adhesive residue away with a cotton swab dampened in water; aggressive solvents could attack the paint.
• Count the small masks after taking them off, so that none is left under the finishing varnish.
• Scrape any paint run away with a toothpick, not with metal, as a clear part is easily scratched.

Who the set is for

For a modeler who is building the Canadian version of the Leopard with MEXAS add-on armor and wants sharp edges without retouching by hand.