1:72 Supermarine Seafire Mk.46

Supermarine Seafire Mk.46 1:72 - a masking set

A set of painting masks for building a model of the carrier fighter Supermarine Seafire Mk.46 in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit but an accessory that comes up before painting. The masks have a ready-made shape matching the parts of the model, so they are simply peeled off the backing and stuck on - with no measuring, no cutting and no risk of the scalpel slipping across a clear part.

The name gives only the type of aircraft and the scale. It is a masking set; the scope of the set and the number of masks are to be checked against the details on the packaging. On late Seafires the masking concerns mainly the teardrop canopy, which has a rounded shape and is hard to mask by hand.

The real subject

The Seafire is the carrier version of the Spitfire, adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. The late marks, the Mk.46 among them, differ fundamentally from the early machines: they are powered by the Rolls-Royce Griffon V12, have enlarged tail surfaces and contra-rotating propellers, which balance out the torque of the powerful engine. In looks it is already a different aircraft from the Spitfire of the early war, even if it cannot deny the family line.

How to use the set

Wash the transparent parts in lukewarm soapy water and let them dry, otherwise a mask will not adhere. Carry a mask over with tweezers, seat it along the frame and press the edges down with a toothpick. Spray in thin layers and take a mask off while the paint is fresh. On the rounded canopy, work in small sections and press the mask down gently, so that it does not lift on the curve.

Who the set is for

• builders of late Seafires in 1:72 scale
• modelers who want sharp frames without cutting by hand
• airbrush users who care about a clean transition of color
• anyone interested in postwar British carrier aviation

The package holds painting masks only. Neither the model nor the paints are part of it.