Quick Wheel QW-001: Dragon 1/35 sFH 18 wheel masks

I'll repeat the notes. This is the best wheel mask I've ever seen. To paraphrase the designer and developer, I hate painting road wheels on tank kits more than any other task in building an AFV. This is especially true if there isn't a heavily defined break between the hub and wheel. Like the folks at Quick Wheel, I've tried circle templates and those masks where one peels off sticky masking material and applied it to the wheel. Neither one has been truly successful as I always get overspray and end up hand painting the tires anyway.

Well, this design does away with that need. First, each set is specifically designed for a dedicated kit. In this case, it is Dragon. Secondly, the tire/wheel combination fits snugly into the provided opening and butts right up against the flexible plastic material. It is here that the masking takes place. With the tire already painted, one simply sprays on the wheel color, then pulls the tire/wheel out and that is it. Each mask does a bunch of wheels at one time. This particular one for the sFH 18 can handle two at once. The image at the left shows the mask front and back (the blue side is the flexible plastic). The one on the right shows it with a wheel installed. Click the thumbnails for a larger view.

It is a great painting help and it is something that I'm sure will be in big demand one armor builders realize how handy this really is. It would be great for multiple wheel aircraft as well, but for now, their line is only for armor kits.

March 2009

My thanks to www.quickwheel.eu for the review sample. Visit them for more information on this and other sets.