1:48 Nakajima Ki-43-II/III Hayabusa National Insignia and markings masks

The real subject

The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was the main fighter of the Japanese Army Air Force in the Second World War. It was light and agile, and its retractable undercarriage and slender fuselage gave it a silhouette that Allied pilots remembered well under the code name Oscar. The Ki-43-II and Ki-43-III versions are later production renderings of the same type.

What the set contains

Masks for spraying the national insignia and other markings on a model in 1:48 scale. A sprayed marking has no carrier film, it does not shine on a matte finish and it is under no threat of silvering. During later weathering and glazing it behaves just like the paint around it, so it can be painted over and unified without concern. What exactly is laid out on the sheet is stated in the manufacturer's instructions. The advantage shows itself where an insignia is meant to be worn or partly painted over as well: a sprayed one can be worked on with a sanding sponge and with pigment, whereas on a decal the carrier film is laid bare underneath straight away.

Work tips

• wash and degrease the surface before sticking the mask on
• stick the mask onto a dried base coat, not after the color of the insignia
• press the edges down with a toothpick, especially on rounded surfaces
• spray several light layers at right angles to the mask
• take the mask off into fresh paint, with a pull at a sharp angle
• sharp edges left after spraying can be evened out with a moistened stick

Terms of supply

Masks are supplied. The model, the paints, the decals and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.