1:48 Mig 21 F wheel bay plugs (for Eduard)

Omask 1:48 MiG-21F, masking plugs for the landing gear bays

This is not a kit and not a set of parts that stay on the model. It is a masking aid: shaped plugs of flexible foam that are pressed into the landing gear bays of the MiG-21F model in 1:48 scale and cover them while the surrounding surfaces are sprayed. The shape follows the bays of the MiG-21F kit from Eduard, so the plugs fit straight away and there is no laborious building of masks out of tape. Once the paint has dried they are simply pulled out of the model.

How it works

On a jet fighter three bays are usually masked, the nose one and both main ones, and all of them are deep and intricate. Stuffing them with tissue or taping them is tedious and paint likes to get underneath. A foam plug goes into the opening whole, its own springiness holds it in place and its edge sits flush with the outline of the bay, so the result after spraying is a clean transition. The plug is not glued, leaves no adhesive and no tape mark and can be used again.

Use

• Paint the bays first and let the paint dry thoroughly.
• Press the plug into the bay so that it sits flush with the surrounding surface of the fuselage or wing.
• Spray with the airbrush perpendicular to the surface rather than at a sharp angle into the gap, which limits paint getting underneath.
• Take the plug carefully out with tweezers once the finish has dried.
• Do not glue the plugs, as they hold by themselves and can be used again on further builds.

Who the plugs are for

For modelers who build the MiG-21F in 1:48 scale and want to save time on masking, and for those who spray heavier coats and want to be sure the interior of the bays stays clean. Even a beginner can manage them, as all it takes is tweezers.

The plugs are not intended for gluing or painting and are not part of the finished model. Do not insert them into paint that has not dried fully, as the foam could leave an imprint in the finish. Keep out of the reach of small children.