1:32 P-51D Mustang

A sprayed insignia has no step

The P-51D is the version of the Mustang with a cut-down rear fuselage and a teardrop canopy. In 1:32 that canopy becomes an expansive clear area and inaccurate framing on it catches the eye sooner than anything else. The set aims exactly here: it covers the glazing from both faces and adds a pair of national insignia.

The decal sits on top, the paint is inside

The carrier film of a decal has a thickness of its own. A fine step therefore forms around the star and side lighting gives it away as a pale outline. In a larger scale it tends to be more noticeable, because the surfaces are broader and light travels further across them. The sprayed alternative has no edge at all: the paint becomes part of the paint layer and the transition from white to the surrounding camouflage stays flat both to the touch and to the eye.

What to watch out for

The surface has to be clean and degreased, otherwise the film will not seat and the paint will run under the edge. Spraying goes in thin coats and the mask is lifted while the finish is still fresh. Once it has cured fully there is a risk of a piece of the coat peeling away with the film, and repairing that kind of wound costs more work than the whole masking job. Clear parts are masked only after polishing, so that no abrasive residue is left under the film.

When to reach for another solution

The star with bars is a large, simple shape, so it is ideally suited to spraying. Small inscriptions by the cockpit, warning captions on the wing or a personal marking on the cowling are another category: there a cut film is at the limit of what it can do and a printed sheet serves better. A sensible build combines both techniques and lets the mask do what it is unbeatable at.

What the delivery includes

• Pre-cut films for both faces of the clear part
• Two national insignia for spraying
• Without paints, without a kit, without decals