1:32 Paint mask Spitfire Mk.I (KOTARE)

Masking set for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I 1:32

Pre-cut self-adhesive masks from the SX-Art brand for a large-scale model of the British Supermarine Spitfire fighter in the Mk.I version. The masks are stuck onto the clear part, sprayed over along with the rest of the airframe and taken off once dry. The result is a frame with a sharp edge that carries on from the color of the fuselage. It is based on the dimensions of the Kotare kit.

Where the result is decided on a Spitfire

The early Spitfires have the characteristic rounded cockpit canopy with fairly narrow frames and an armored windscreen at the front. The curvature is exactly the place where masking by hand fails: a straight strip of tape ripples on a doubly curved surface and paint creeps under it. A pre-cut piece is cut to the shape, so it seats on a curve without folds. In 1:32 scale the cockpit is also very much on view; it is the first thing anyone examines on a finished model.

Usage tips

First degrease the clear part and dry it. Lift the pieces off the sheet with the point of a knife and lay them dry, without pressure, until they sit exactly; only then press them down around the edge with a toothpick. It proves worthwhile to spray the frames in the interior color first and only then in the external camouflage; the frame then looks right even when seen from inside the cockpit. Apply thin coats and take the mask off as soon as the paint is dry and firm to the touch. Any adhesive residue that is left comes away with a cotton swab slightly dampened in water.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Spitfire Mk.I in the large 1:32 scale
• Modelers whose hand-cut tape ripples on the rounded canopy
• Those who want the frames painted inside and out in the right colors
• Beginners looking for a route to a clean cockpit without the slow business of cutting