1:144 Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden kai (2 masks incl.) canopy masks

Dead Design 1:144 Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai canopy masks

This is an accessory for a build, not a kit. The package contains pre-cut self-adhesive masks that you apply to the clear canopy. Once the shades of the frames have been sprayed, the glass stays clean and the edges of the frames crisp. According to the name there are two masks in the set, so you have a spare for a second model or in case the first piece is ruined during handling.

Expect genuinely fine work

In 1:144 scale the whole canopy of a fighter measures about a centimeter. The individual pieces of mask are therefore smaller than a fingernail and cannot be handled with the fingers. Have tweezers with a fine, preferably bent tip ready, a magnifier or magnifying glasses and good side lighting. Reckon with a piece turning easily as it is carried, or sticking to the tip of the tweezers; adjust the position on the part with a toothpick, while the mask can still be moved.

Usage tips

Before applying, wash the clear part in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let it dry in the air; grease from the fingers is the main reason masks hold badly in this scale. Once the mask is applied, press it down around its perimeter with a blunt toothpick, so that paint cannot flow under the edge. Spray the thinnest possible coats of thinned paint from a greater distance; a heavy coat creates a step at the edge of the mask that shows even in 1:144. Lift the mask off shortly after it has dried, pulling at a shallow angle, and rather with the point of a scalpel than with a fingernail.

Who the set is for

• Builders of models in 1:144 who want readable canopy frames without cutting tape by hand.
• Modelers building Japanese fighters of the Second World War.
• Patient hobbyists used to working with tweezers and a magnifier.
• Everyone who wants to keep a spare mask for a second attempt.