1:48 Ka-52 Alligator Russian Attack Helicopter Camouflage Paint Masks Set

The real subject

The Ka-52 is a two-seat Russian attack helicopter derived from the single-seat Ka-50. You recognize it at a glance: it has no tail rotor, because the lift system consists of a pair of coaxial contra-rotating rotors, and the crew sit side by side in a wide armored cockpit. It carries pylons for armament on stub wings. It is exactly on that wide front section of the fuselage that a multicolored camouflage shows best, and that is why it is worth doing cleanly.

What the set solves

The masks are pre-cut to the shape of the individual camouflage fields. Tracing the pattern from the instructions and the lengthy composing of masking tape piece by piece therefore fall away. You stick them onto an already sprayed base, spray over with the next shade, and once lifted a precisely bounded area is left. The pattern does not shift even on the rounded parts of the fuselage, where covering by hand most often goes astray.

Usage tips

• Let the base dry properly before sticking the masks down and clear it of dust and grease.
• The masks belong on the model before spraying the next shade, not after a coat has dried.
• Press the edges of the masks down with the blunt tip of tweezers so that the paint does not bleed under them.
• Apply the paint in several thin coats, as a heavy coat bleeds under and forms a ridge.
• Lift the masks soon after the paint has dried, at an angle to the surface and pulling back over themselves.
• If you want a softer transition, raise the edge of the mask a little above the surface of the model.

Terms of supply

The masks alone are supplied. A kit, paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. The order of the shades and the recommended spraying procedure are found in the manufacturer's instructions.