1:32 MC.200 Saetta - Tactical Marking for Italeri

Eduard 1:32 Macchi MC.200 Saetta, masks for tactical markings

A set of self-adhesive masks from Eduard, intended for spraying the tactical markings on the Macchi MC.200 Saetta kit in 1:32 scale from Italeri. It is not a kit and not an airplane model but an accessory to a kit you have already bought. The masks are stuck onto the surface, sprayed over with paint, and once removed a sharp motif worked into the finish is left behind.

Tactical markings are something other than national insignia. While a national insignia says who the machine belongs to, tactical markings identify a particular aircraft and its unit, the individual numbers and codes on the fuselage and any bands or stripes. It is precisely these features that tend to be the greatest weakness of decals: large numerals and wide bands lie badly over a curved fuselage and riveting, and their edge is clearly visible in the large 1:32 scale. A sprayed marking has no such problem.

Use

• Intended for the MC.200 Saetta 1:32 kit from Italeri; the shape and dimensions of the masks match that kit.
• Apply them only to dry, smooth and degreased camouflage; press the mask down carefully all the way round so that paint cannot run under it.
• Spray with an airbrush in thin coats; one thick coat will create a step at the edge of the mask.
• With light numbers on a dark surface, spray a covering white first and only then the final shade, and the color will be richer with nothing showing through.
• Take the mask off with tweezers in an oblique pull before the paint has fully cured; finally unify the model with a clear coat.

Who it is for

For modelers who want their Saetta in 1:32 marked like a real machine, with a number and a code that are part of the finish rather than a film stuck on top. It pays off above all with a matte finish and with heavier weathering or chipping, where a decal would immediately give away that it is stuck on. It assumes basic experience with an airbrush and patience in applying the masks.

An accessory for spraying markings, not a model. The kit, paints and decals are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.