1:144 Mitsubishi A6M Reisen canopy masks (2 masks included)

Dead Design 1:144 Mitsubishi A6M Reisen canopy masks

A set of pre-cut self-adhesive masks for the clear canopy. It is not a kit but an accessory that replaces the lengthy cutting of masking tape. According to the name the package contains two masks.

Why it cannot be done with tape in 1:144

The Reisen has a long glazed canopy divided into several panes and the frames between them are thinner than a hair in this scale. A strip of tape cut by hand tends to be wider than the frame it is meant to cover, so the result is a coarse grid instead of a fine lattice. A pre-cut mask removes that problem: the shape and the width of the frame are given.

Work with tweezers and a magnifier

The individual pieces are smaller than a fingernail. Lift them off the sheet with the point of a scalpel, carry them with fine tweezers and press them home with a toothpick. The risk lies mainly in shifting: a piece turns readily at a touch and sticks on crooked, and a few tenths of a millimeter show on the model. Work on a light surface so that the mask does not disappear on you, and reckon with probably losing one piece.

Usage tips

First wash and degrease the clear part, otherwise the mask will not seat. It works well to spray a thin coat of the interior shade first and, once it has dried, the shade of the frames; any seepage then stays in the color that belongs there. Spray thinned paint in several light coats and lift the mask off as soon as the paint has set. Wipe any adhesive residue away with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol and let the clear part rest at the end before you glue it into the fuselage.

Who the set is for

• Collectors of miniature models in 1:144 who want a readable cockpit.
• Builders of Japanese carrier fighters.
• Modelers who cannot cut tape narrowly enough in a small scale.
• Those who build several examples of the same type and will use the second mask.