1:72 Mitsubishi A6M5 m.52 Reisen Control Surfaces

The real subject

The Mitsubishi A6M, Reisen in Japanese, was a carrier-based fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and Model 52 is its most numerously built version from the second half of the war. Against Model 21 it has a shorter wing finished in a rounded curve, without folding tips. A conspicuous recognition feature is the individual exhaust stacks led out along the sides of the cowling, which left marked smoke stains on the skin.

What the set contains

This is a set of painting masks defined for the control surfaces, that is for the area of the ailerons and the elevator and the rudder. The extent of the masks and the kit they are cut for are stated in the manufacturer's instructions. Check that before buying; the shape of the surfaces differs between the individual kits.

How to work with the masks

Masking decides how the finish will look at the edges. A few principles hold regardless of which paint you use and which kit you are building.

• 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.
• Apply the paint in thin layers; a heavy layer will create a step at the edge of the mask.
• Peel 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.