1:48 P-40CU AIRFIX

A Montex masking set for the Curtiss P-40 (early version) in 1:48 scale

This set of precisely die-cut self-adhesive masks from the Polish maker Montex will make the most delicate part of a build easier - cleanly framing the cabin glazing. The range the set belongs to combines masks for covering the transparent parts with templates for spraying the national insignia, so that you can do without decals and their silvering. It is not a kit but an accessory for painting a model of the early version of the P-40 in 1:48 scale. The masks are cut to fit a particular kit, so check before buying that they match your model.

The real subject

The Curtiss P-40 came about at the end of the 1930s by development from the P-36 Hawk type, into whose airframe the designers built the Allison V-1710 V engine. The early versions without powerful supercharging gave their best performance at lower altitudes; with the Royal Air Force they carried the name Tomahawk and took part in the fighting in North Africa among other places. The P-40 was one of the most numerous American fighters of the first half of the Second World War.

Working with the masks

Lift the mask off the backing with tweezers, lay it on the degreased surface and smooth the edges down carefully with a toothpick or a soft spatula. Apply the paint with an airbrush in light layers at right angles to the edge of the mask, so that it does not run under the edge. Once the last layer has dried, take the masks off carefully - the frames of the cabin will stay perfectly sharp.

Who the set is for

• for modelers who want sharp cabin frames with no outlining by hand
• for builders of the P-40 who prefer sprayed markings to decals
• for everyone who works with an airbrush and values a saving of time

This is a masking accessory - the model itself, the paints and the glue are not included in the package.