1:32 AH-64D Apache Takom

Masks for the cockpit glazing of the Spitfire Mk. V

A set of shaped masking templates for the cockpit frames of a model of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V in 1:32 scale. The name of the set states that it is cut for the Kotare kit.

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk. V was the most numerous version of this British fighter of the middle part of the Second World War, and it served over the English Channel as well as in the Mediterranean. In the subversion designated Vb it carried a pair of cannon in the wing complemented by machine guns. Machines used in North Africa were given a bulky dust filter under the nose, which markedly changes the silhouette of the aircraft. The Spitfire's cockpit is small and heavily curved, so any unevenness in a frame catches the eye at once on a finished model.

What masking solves

Glazing tends to be the most exposed place on a model. A frame painted with a brush waves, paint creeps under tape cut by hand, and a blade run directly over a clear part leaves a scratch that can no longer be polished out. A pre-cut template solves all three problems at once.

• Shaped masking templates for the cockpit glazing
• 1:32 scale
• According to the product name cut for the Kotare kit
• No cutting of tape directly on the clear part
• Try the fit on the part dry beforehand

Painting tips

First wash and degrease the clear part, as a mask does not hold on a greasy surface. Apply the templates before spraying, press the edges down with a blunt point and work in short sections around curves. Apply the paint straight at the surface and in thin coats, otherwise it gets under the edge. If you are painting the frames from the inside as well, lay down the interior shade before the outer camouflage. Take the masks off while the coat has not yet fully cured, and pull them back over themselves rather than straight up.

The package contains masking templates. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.