1:48 T-34/85 - HobbyBoss

T-34/85 road wheel masks in 1:48 scale

Pre-cut masks for painting the wheels of the T-34/85 tank in 1:48 scale. They cover the rubber tire band and leave the rim free, so the border between them is created by spraying. The set is cut for the T-34/85 kit from Hobby Boss.

What makes the running gear of the T-34/85 special in this scale

The T-34 has five large road wheels per side, Christie suspension and no return rollers, so the tracks bear directly on the wheels and the whole running gear stays open to view. In 1:48 scale, though, the large wheels of the subject shrink to little discs a few millimeters across and the rubber tire band on them forms only a narrow strip near the edge. That narrowness is the point: lining a strip a few tenths of a millimeter wide by hand is very difficult even for an experienced hand, and circles cut out of masking tape yourself tend to be irregular at this scale. A pre-cut mask is therefore markedly more help here than on the same tank in 1:35 scale.

When the mask sticks to the tweezers instead of the wheel

Small masks in 1:48 scale have a tendency to catch on everything except the part. Separate them from the sheet with the point of a sharp scalpel rather than with your fingers, and carry them on the tip rather than in the jaws of the tweezers. If a mask still resists, wipe your fingers with a damp cloth — a slightly moistened fingertip reduces the static charge and the mask stays where you put it. Spray the paint in a thin coat and at lower pressure; a strong stream can shift a small mask off the wheel. Paint and unmask the wheels before you seat them in the hull.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Soviet equipment in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who cannot line a narrow tire band in 1:48 scale with a brush
• Those who do not want to cut the circles themselves
• Anyone after a clean and uniform running gear

Paints, glue and the kit are not included in the package.