1:32 A6M5 ZERO

The 1:32 A6M5 Zero masking set (HGW)

This is not a kit of an aircraft but a modeling accessory. The set contains self-adhesive masks meant for a model of the Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero in 1:32 scale. The masks are stuck onto the cockpit glazing and onto other areas that are to stay clear or in a different shade after spraying, and once the paint has dried they are taken off. The result is sharp, even transitions between the frame of the canopy and the glass, which are reached only with difficulty using tape by hand. The number of pieces, the material of the carrier and the particular kit the set is cut for are stated by the manufacturer on the box of the set. Check against them that it matches the model you are building before buying.

The real subject

The Mitsubishi A6M5, known under the designation Zero model 52, was a later production version of the Japanese carrier-based fighter from the period of the Second World War. Against the older versions it had shortened wings with rounded tips, a modified exhaust system and a strengthened airframe structure. On this version the canopy has broken-up framing, so masking takes a lot of time in 1:32 scale and pre-cut masks shorten the work noticeably.

Use

• Peel the mask off the carrier film and lay it on the clean, degreased surface of the part.
• Press the edges down with a toothpick or a blunt tip, so that no paint runs under them.
• Spray in thin coats; a thick coat of paint leaves a step at the edge of a mask.
• Take the mask off while the paint is freshly dried, not after it has fully cured.
• Before buying, check that the set matches the kit you are building; the cuts are tied to the particular shape of the parts.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the Zero in a large scale and want clean glazing without laborious cutting of tape. Beginners will appreciate it too, because masking the glazing is one of the most frequent causes of a model that does not come off.

The set is an accessory to a model, not a kit in its own right. Paints, glue and the base model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.