1:48 SPITFIRE VB TAMIYA

The real subject

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-engined fighter, recognizable from a distance by its elliptical wing. The Mk.V version was the most numerous rendering of the type during the war, and the letter b in the Mk.Vb designation denotes the armament of the so-called b wing, that is a pair of 20 mm cannon complemented by four machine guns. Machines of this version served on a whole range of battlefields from Britain to the Mediterranean, so the choice of markings is wide.

What the set contains

These are painting masks, that is pre-shaped pieces for the areas that are meant to stay free of paint while spraying. Most often they are the bezels of the cabin glazing, the wheels and the boundaries of the color fields. The set is cut for the Tamiya kit in 1:48 scale. Which areas exactly it covers is stated in the manufacturer's instructions, and before ordering it pays to check that against the product code MXK48341.

How to work with the masks

• The surface under the mask must be clean, dry and degreased.
• Transfer the mask with tweezers and press it down all the way around, so that no paint runs under the edge.
• They are stuck on before spraying, not onto a finished coat of paint.
• On the bezels of the glazing, check the seating against the light; an overlap cannot be corrected afterward.
• Apply the paint in thin layers; a heavy layer will create a step at the edge of the mask.
• Take the mask off as soon as the paint is dry to the touch, slowly and at a shallow angle to the surface.

Terms of supply

The set contains painting masks. The paints, the glue and the kit of the model are usually not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.