1:48 Aichi B7A1/B7A2 Ryusei Grace National Insignias .without white outline

The real subject

The Aichi B7A Ryusei was a carrier-based attack aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy, meant to bring the roles of torpedo and dive bomber together in one machine. You know it by its cranked wing in the shape of an inverted gull. The B7A1 version was built in a small series for trials, and the B7A2 was the production one. It took only a marginal part in the fighting, because the decks it was to fly from were in short supply by the end of the war. The Allied designation for this type was Grace.

What the set is for

These are masks for spraying the national insignia, that is solid discs, in the version without a white outline. The marking is sprayed straight onto the surface of the model, so no carrier film and no glossy edge of the kind a decal sometimes leaves behind is left on it. There is also the advantage that sprayed paint can be aged and dusted along with the rest of the area. The extent of the set is in the manufacturer's instructions.

Usage tips

The recommended sequence of steps:

• let the area under the marking dry completely, then wash and degrease it
• settle the mask and press the edges of the disc down with a blunt tool all the way around
• lay the paint on in thin coats, so that it does not run under the line
• take the mask off with tweezers as soon as the paint has set

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who prefer sprayed markings to decals, and it also helps where a marking crosses rivets or panel lines. The paints, the model and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.