1:48 Spitfire Mk. I

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk.I was the first production form of the British fighter whose elliptical wing became one of the best-known shapes in wartime aviation. Machines of this version carried eight machine guns in the wing and in the summer of 1940, together with Hurricanes, they made up the backbone of the British defense. The propeller, the cockpit cover and small items of equipment changed during production, so before building it is worth comparing the model with the particular machine you want to build.

What the set contains

A sheet of masking parts in 1:48 scale, cut to finished shapes in self-adhesive material. The diagram in the package shows where each part belongs. The masks are made to suit a particular kit; there are several sets for the Spitfire Mk.I with different part numbers, so go by the number when you order.

Building and painting tips

Wash the surface of the glazing before masking and let it dry. Transfer a part with tweezers, position it according to the diagram and press the edges down with a toothpick; an edge that has not been pressed down is the most frequent cause of paint running underneath. Spray in thin coats and take the mask off as soon as the paint is dry to the touch. If paint does run underneath after all, correct the transition with a sharp toothpick before the coat hardens.

Who it is for

For anyone who is building the Spitfire Mk.I and does not want to spend an evening cutting curves out of tape. The package contains masking sheets as listed by the manufacturer; paints, thinner and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.