1:32 Brewster Buffalo canopy airbrush mask for Special Hobby

Canopy glazing masks, Brewster Buffalo 1:32 (MH models)

A set of shaped self-adhesive masks for the clear parts of a model of the Brewster Buffalo fighter in 1:32 scale. The masks follow the shape of the individual panes of glazing, so that once they are in place only the canopy frame is left exposed, and that is then sprayed with paint. This removes the slow business of cutting strips, and the resulting edges of the frames are straight and sharp. The set contains neither the model nor the paints. The masks are cut for the Special Hobby kit.

The real subject

The Brewster Buffalo was an American carrier fighter designed in the second half of the 1930s, one of the first monoplanes with all-metal construction and retractable landing gear in the armament of the US Navy. Its short, stocky fuselage with a radial engine is characteristic. Besides American units, European and Asian countries also used it in export versions, and in some of them it did considerably better than in the fighting in the Pacific. The cockpit has a framed canopy with several frames, and masking them by hand tends to be laborious.

How to use the masks

First wash and degrease the clear part, because fingerprints under a mask can no longer be cleaned off. Lift the masks with tweezers and lay them in the middle of the pane, then press them down with a soft stick from the center toward the edges. Spray the interior color first and the external camouflage once it has dried. Take the masks off only after the paint has dried, ideally with the tip of a toothpick, so that you do not scratch the clear surface. Remove any adhesive residue with a dry cloth, because aggressive solvents would frost the clear part.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building a Buffalo in the large 1:32 scale
• Anyone who wants to avoid cutting masks by hand
• Anyone interested in American fighters of the turn of the 1930s and 1940s
• Builders who are bothered by blurred edges on cockpit frames

This is a masking accessory, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package. Check before you buy that the masks match your kit.