Brandon Lowe has introduced the Squadron Cutting Mat in a clear resealable package. This is a very useful tool to protect your modeling desk as well as prolong the life of your blades. This 1/8” thick ‘self-healing’ cutting mat features solid white lines to denote one-inch squares that are subdivided by half-inch squares denoted by dotted white lines. The printed grid is 17-inches by 11-inches with the overall size of the cutting mat, 17.6875” x 11.8125”. Centered on the cutting mat is a Boeing B-17 dorsal view drawing in white; but wait; this cutting mat is also two-sided with a duplicated Boeing B-17 drawing and grid on the other side!

Like other cutting mats, you will want to avoid exposing it to excessive heat and spilled plastic solvents. One will also want to keep your cutting mat clean as dust, oils, and adhesives that can get into a cut and then can act as a physical barrier; preventing the polymer from ‘healing’ properly. It is important to keep your cutting mat clean by hand-washing it with water only. You will also find that rolling the cutting mat is not very good idea as it takes time to achieve a flat cutting mat again. The good news is that Squadron ships this cutting mat flat.

‘Self-healing’ cutting mats normally work through viscoelastic polymer physics by allowing a clean cut that once the cutting blade is removed allows the surface to relax and close. On a hard surface like a wood workbench, every cut creates a permanent groove. These grooves will begin to guide future cuts and will crack or chip at the edges. The difference is on a ‘self-healing’ mat, after your cut, you are left with a smooth surface because of the elastic memory of the polymer. If you decide to do a deeper cut, it will take more time for the polymer to close fully and may take some ‘warmth’ to encourage the polymer memory. If you cut even deeper and surpass the polymer’s elastic memory you will probably have a permanent scar with the need to avoid that area of the cutting mat.

Having the proper tools for your project will help you to achieve a higher level of quality for your build. Squadron’s cutting mats fill that role. Squadron currently offers two sizes: small [11” x 8”] and medium [17” x 11”]. A large size is promised soon. I would also expect additional aircraft, ships, and armored fighting vehicles to be featured in the future. This product is a great ‘self-healing’ cutting mat with the added coolness of a B-17 Flying Fortress, and it is double-sided!

Highly recommended!

About the Company

Originally founded in 1968, Squadron / Squadron Signal is back in business again after bankruptcy and are now based out of Ringgold, Georgia. Their web page was re-activated in January 2022 for plastic kits. A retail store was opened in 2025 at their Ringgold address and is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. They have invited The Chattanooga Scale Modelers Club to meet at their warehouse, which occurs on the third Monday of the month. If you can’t make it, be sure to check out their YouTube channel where Brandon and guests are live every Wednesday night. Brandon Lowe and his father, Russ Lowe, re-acquired the Squadron Tools Product Line and are now marketing them once again.