Abstract: Apparatus (88) for mounting a nut plate (4) on an aircraft part and then masking the nut plate during painting of the aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), which apparatus (88) comprises: (i) the nut plate (4); (ii) a first bore (10) which extends through the nut plate (4); (iii) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (iv) a second bore (52) which extends through the masking formation (8); and (v) a mandrel (68) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the first and second bores (10, 52), and the apparatus (88) being such that: (vi) the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16) which is positioned at one end of the body portion (14) and which extends radially outwardly beyond the body portion (14), and a skirt portion (20) which is positioned at a periphery (22) of the masking portion (16) and which extends from a first face (24) of the masking portion (16) and away from the body portion (14); (vii) the body po

Abstract: Apparatus (42) for masking a nut plate (4) during painting of an aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), comprising: (i) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (ii) a bore (10) which extends axially through the masking formation (8); and (iii) a mandrel (12) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the bore (10) and projects beyond the masking formation (8), and the apparatus (42) being such that the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16), and a skirt portion (20); there are no supporting formations which extend between the body portion (14) and a face (30) of the masking portion (16) and which would act to provide unwanted masking of areas of parts of the aircraft being painted; and the body portion (14) and/or the masking portion (16) are provided with internal integral reinforcing.