1:32 Mask Bell X-1 BASIC (REV)

New Ware mask set for the Bell X-1 in 1:32 scale

A basic mask set from the Czech manufacturer New Ware for a model of the experimental Bell X-1 rocket aircraft in the large 1:32 scale. It is not a kit: you are buying a set of self-adhesive templates that are stuck onto the model, sprayed over and taken off again. The cut matches the parts of one specific Revell kit.

The BASIC level

New Ware offers its masks at the BASIC, ADVANCED and EXPERT levels. The difference is in the scope of the set, not in quality: BASIC is the smallest variant and covers the essentials, while the higher levels add further areas. For a simply shaped aircraft such as the X-1, the basic scope is often enough.

The real subject

The Bell X-1 was an American experimental aircraft with a rocket engine, which in 1947 became the first to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. It was launched from a mounting under a carrier bomber, had a very thin straight wing and a fuselage shaped like a bullet. It was never put into series production; only a handful were built and they were purely research machines.

Tips on painting an X-1 model

The best-known finish of the X-1 is a single deep orange. A shade like that covers badly and on dark plastic it goes blotchy, so spray it over a white or light gray base and in several thin coats. In 1:32 scale every part is large, so an under-sprayed area or a rough edge is clearly visible; all the more reason to mask with a template rather than with tape. After spraying, let the finish rest for a day before you go on to weather the model.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Bell X-1 kit in 1:32 scale named in the product name
• Modelers who want clean cockpit glazing without painting the frames
• Those for whom the basic range of masks is enough
• Collectors of aircraft from the history of aviation in a large scale

The package holds only the masking templates. The kit, paints and glue are not part of it.