1:24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I 2 canopy mask (inside and outside canopy frame mask)

The Montex 1:24 masking set for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I

A set of pre-cut self-adhesive masks in 1:24 scale from the Polish maker Montex. It holds no plastic parts — it serves to let a modeler mask the cockpit glazing and spray the frames sharply and evenly. According to the name this is a pair of masks, that is covers for the frames from the outside and from the inside, which matters in a large scale: the frame is clearly visible from inside, and a white or untreated surface gives away at once that only the outside was masked.

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk.I was the first production version of the British fighter, with a Merlin engine and eight 7.7 mm machine guns in the wing. It was this version that, together with the Hurricane, formed the backbone of British fighter defense in 1940. The cockpit had small but densely divided framing and a bulged canopy, which in 1:24 scale becomes a large and very visible surface.

Painting tips

Why masks instead of decal frames: a decal on a curved canopy forms wrinkles and its sheen differs from the surrounding clear coat, whereas a sprayed frame is part of the surface. Proceed by laying the mask on a perfectly clean, degreased part, pressing it down and working the edges with a rounded tool. Spray the interior shade first, so that the frames match the cockpit from inside, and only then the top camouflage. Apply the paint in thin coats at a right angle to the edge of the mask so that it does not get underneath.

Who the set is for

• builders in the large 1:24 scale, where every frame is on show
• modelers who want clean edges without cutting tape by hand
• those interested in British fighters of the early war
• those who mask the inside of the glazing too

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