1:72 de Havilland Mosquito B.XVI kabuki masks

The real subject

The Mosquito was a British twin-engine aircraft with a structure built largely of wood, which proved itself in the role of a fast bomber, a reconnaissance machine and a fighter. The B.XVI version is among the high-altitude bomber guises: it has a pressurized cabin, thanks to which the crew could work at great heights, and a reworked bomb bay with a bulged door for a bulkier load. Power came from a pair of twelve-cylinder Merlin V12 engines.

What the set contains

This is a set of masking stencils cut from kabuki tape, that is from a thin paper tape with a mildly tacky surface, which adapts well to the curve of glazing and on removal usually leaves no adhesive residue. The extent of the set, and which kit it is cut for, is given by the manufacturer's instructions supplied with it; it does not follow from the name. Before you buy, therefore, compare the scale and the version of the aircraft with your own kit.

Usage tips

First wash the clear parts, degrease them and let them dry perfectly, as a mask will not hold on a greasy surface. Lift the stencils with tweezers and lay them down from one edge, not across the whole area at once. Then press the edges home with a stick or a toothpick, so that no paint seeps under them. Masking is always done before spraying, never after. Apply the paint in thin coats, as a heavy coat creates a step at the edge of the mask. Take the stencils off shortly after the paint has dried, not after several days, and pull them back diagonally against themselves.

• masking stencils in kabuki tape in 1:72 scale
• prepared for a model of the de Havilland Mosquito B.XVI
• the tape adapts to the curve of the glazing
• the extent of the set and the intended kit according to the manufacturer's instructions
• applied before spraying, removed shortly after the paint has dried

Terms of supply

A set of masks is supplied. The model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.