1:72 Kawanishi N1K2-j Shiden KAI Undercarriage Bay Masks

The real subject

The Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden KAI was a reworked Shiden. The designers moved the wing from the middle of the fuselage to the low position, so the aircraft could be given a shorter and simpler main landing gear, and they rebuilt its fuselage and tail surfaces as well. The result was one of the best Japanese fighters of the closing stage of the war; the Allies knew it under the name George.

What the set contains

Masks for the landing gear bay spaces of a model in 1:72 scale. They cover the openings of the bays while the surrounding surfaces are sprayed, so that no overspray gets into them and the transition between the paint of the bay and the surface finish stays crisp. Compare the masks with the model you are building.

Building and painting tips

• Paint the inside of the bays first and let it dry, and only then start covering.
• Seat the masks with tweezers and press the edges down with a toothpick all the way around.
• Spray in thin coats and from a distance, so that the paint cannot creep under the edge.
• Take the mask off shortly after the last coat has set, not once the paint has cured.
• The masks will serve the same purpose again before the final matte varnish.

Who it is for

The set is for the modeler who builds the Shiden KAI with open bays and wants to avoid cutting tape into complicated shapes. It is a stand-alone masking set; the model, the paints and the glue are not supplied with it, unless stated otherwise.