1:24 North American P-51D, K, Mk.IVA BASIC kabuki masks

A masking set 1:24 North American P-51D, P-51K and Mustang Mk.IVA, the Basic level

The set from New Ware is prepared for models of the Mustang in the large 1:24 scale. The templates are cut from kabuki paper, that is, from a thin masking material that adapts well even to the markedly bulged cockpit canopy. The Basic level denotes the smallest of the levels of extent in the range, aimed at the glazing.

A large scale forgives less, not more

There is a notion that masking is easier in a larger scale because everything is bigger. In reality the opposite holds: every imperfect edge shows twice as much at twice the size, and the bubble canopy of the Mustang has a three-dimensional curvature along which a straight strip of tape simply will not run. A cut mask is tailored exactly to that curvature, so the frame stays the same width along its whole length. On a model of 1:24 size, which is usually built as a display piece, that work pays off at once.

Gluing and spraying tips

Wash the transparent part and let it dry freely. Lay the mask down from the center and press it toward the edges from there so that it does not crease. On strongly bulged surfaces, warm the paper from a distance with a heat gun on the lowest setting; it will then seat better. Spray the frames with the interior color first. If you choose a natural metal finish, which is common on this type, let the metallic paint harden completely and lift the mask at an acute angle. The remaining sheet comes in handy for masking small things on later builds.

Who the set is for

• builders of the Mustang in the large 1:24 scale
• modelers who want a display piece with no compromises on the cockpit
• those interested in the American as well as the British form of this type
• those looking for a compact set aimed at the glazing

This is an accessory for a model, not a model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.