1:35 BMPT-72 Terminator II Wheel Paint Mask

A Terminator on the T-72 chassis

The BMPT-72 came out of a simple line of thought: after the fighting in built-up areas a machine was missing that would escort a tank and cover what its own gun could not reach. Uralvagonzavod therefore took the proven T-72 chassis, removed the turret and fitted a low weapon station with two 30 mm automatic cannons, a machine gun and launch containers for anti-tank missiles. The second build was presented in 2013 and differs from the original Terminator above all in its more compact superstructure without the grenade launchers in the front part of the hull. Series deployment remained limited, which makes the machine all the more rewarding a subject among modelers.

Why the wheels in particular

On a tracked vehicle the road wheels are small but conspicuous work. The tire band differs from the rim and painting it evenly on twelve pieces freehand is practically impossible. The film in this set has inner circular openings exactly the diameter of the rim, so it is fitted and only what is to carry a different shade is sprayed. It saves an hour of fine brushwork and, above all, the result comes out the same on every wheel.

What it usually falls on

Pressing the mask down is underrated. A flat film is laid onto a wheel that is not flat — the band tends to be domed and has lugs around the openings — and the modeler is satisfied that it holds. An air gap is thus left under the edge and the paint works its way into it. After applying the mask, go over it with a blunt wooden stick all the way round, from the center outward, until the edge visibly sucks down.