1:32 K5Y Willow wheels & paint masks

The real subject

The Yokosuka K5Y was a Japanese naval trainer biplane on which whole generations of pilots went through their training. The Allies used the code name Willow for it, while at home its conspicuous yellow-orange finish earned it the nickname red dragonfly. Its landing gear was fixed, so the wheels stayed in view at all times and on a finished model they are one of the first things a viewer looks at closely.

What the set contains

The package holds replacement wheels and painting masks. The wheels replace the parts from the kit where a clearer tread pattern and a cleaner transition between the tire and the rim are wanted. The masks are applied to the wheel before spraying; on wheels they normally separate the rim from the tire, so that there is no need to work with a brush after drying and to correct edges where paint has run over. The exact purpose of the masks and the number of parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions enclosed.

Building and painting tips

• the parts are not polystyrene, so they are bonded with cyanoacrylate glue
• cut excess material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder
• wash and degrease the wheels before painting, or the finish will hold badly
• apply the mask only onto a dried first coat and press it down all the way round

Apply paint to a masked part in thin layers and spray at right angles to the edge of the mask, not under it. Take the mask off while the finish has only just set, and the edge will stay sharp.

Terms of supply

A set of wheels with masks is supplied. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.