1:32 Arado Ar 196 Shark Insignia And Numbers - WW II Bulgarian NAVY Paint Mask Set

The Bulgarian Arado Ar 196 with the shark marking

The German Arado Ar 196 was a two-seat floatplane reconnaissance aircraft that from the late 1930s was launched by catapult from the decks of large surface ships and served just as well for patrolling along the coast. A pair of large floats, a radial engine and respectable endurance made it a machine suitable for smaller navies too.

Bulgaria also obtained several examples during the Second World War and its naval aviation operated them from the Black Sea coast. Besides the national markings, these machines carried striking unit emblems and tactical numbers, which is a far more rewarding subject for a builder than the factory standard without decoration.

The package covers exactly this decoration, that is the shark motif and the numerals. Compared with a decal, a sprayed marking has two advantages: a matte surface with no glossy carrier and resistance to later weathering. The film is cut for 1:32 scale, that is for a large model on which every imperfection of a decal would be visible at first glance.

Floatplanes have a special standing in modeling, because they can be displayed on a water surface as well as on a transport trolley on shore. A Bulgarian example with striking decoration is a rewarding subject in both cases and the color motif on the fuselage becomes the focal point of the whole resulting scene.

Work on a smooth base and spray in several light coats, so that the paint does not get under the edge. With a multicolor motif start with the lighter shade and add the darker one after laying on the second part of the film. Wipe off any adhesive residue with a cotton swab moistened in alcohol, but on a fresh acrylic coat rather reach only for a dry cloth.