1:72 A400M Atlas UPPER WALKWAY kabuki masks

New Ware 1:72 A400M Atlas UPPER WALKWAY - Walkway Masks

An accessory for building a model of the Airbus A400M in 1:72 scale. The set contains pre-cut templates of kabuki tape for spraying the walkways, that is the areas on the upper side of the airframe that may be walked on during ground handling. It is not a kit and it is not decals.

Why do them by spraying

On the real aircraft the walkways are usually finished with a different, generally more matte and non-slip surface, so even the naked eye picks them out. On a model they can be done with a decal, but the decal film easily gives away its edge on large continuous areas and ripples on a complex surface. A sprayed area, on the other hand, looks like part of the paint, can be tied together with a clear coat and takes further weathering. A pre-cut mask also guarantees the correct shape and position of the strips, which are hard to measure out by hand.

Work tips

First let the surface dry thoroughly, otherwise the tape will pull fresh paint away. Lay the templates on dry, check the position against the panel lines and only then press the edges down. Spray the shade of the strips thinly, because an extra layer means a noticeable ridge at the edge. If you want the strips to stand out on the model, use a shade one step more matte or slightly shifted rather than a markedly different color; exaggerated contrast looks unconvincing on a large aircraft. Lift the mask off shortly after the paint has set, slowly and at a sharp angle.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to spray the walkways instead of using decals
• Builders of large aircraft, where these areas are extensive and hard to measure out
• Those who finish a model with weathering and need every marking in the paint
• Airbrush users looking for an accurate and repeatable result

The set is an accessory for building a model. The model itself, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.