1:48 Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien Undercarriage Bay Masks

The real subject

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was a fighter of the Japanese Army Air Force that differed from other Japanese fighters at first glance: thanks to its liquid-cooled engine it had a slim, pointed nose, and the Allies at first mistakenly took it for a machine of European origin. The Ki-61-Id version is a late one from the first production series.

What the set contains

Masks for the landing gear bay openings of a model in 1:72 scale. They cover the openings of the bays for the time the surrounding areas are sprayed, so that no overspray gets inside and the edge of the paint at the rim of the bay stays crisp. Which kit they are cut for is not stated here, so compare the shapes with the model you are building before buying.

Building and painting tips

• Paint the inside of the bays and let it dry before you fit the masks.
• In 1:72 scale the pieces are small, so settle them with tweezers and press the edges down with a toothpick.
• Spray the paint in thin coats, otherwise it will run under the edge and the boundary will blur.
• Take the mask off at a sharp angle immediately after the last coat has set.
• Before the final varnish, cover the bays again so that they keep their own degree of gloss.

Who it is for

The set suits the modeler who is held up in a small scale by blocking bays off with hand-cut tape and wants clean edges first time. This is a separate masking set; the model, paints and glue are not supplied with it, unless stated otherwise.