1:32 Curtiss P-40 C Tomahawk Mk.IIB /TRM

Painting masks Curtiss P-40 C Tomahawk Mk.IIB 1:32 — AML

A set of painting masks from the Czech manufacturer AML for spraying the camouflage of the Curtiss P-40 C fighter in 1:32 scale, in the Tomahawk Mk.IIB form, that is the version as the RAF designated it. A large P-40 model offers broad surfaces of fuselage and wings on which a camouflage scheme really stands out; the masks make sure the fields join cleanly across the fuselage spine and the leading edges.

The real subject

The Tomahawk Mk.IIB corresponded to the American P-40C and served above all with British and Allied units in North Africa. A rugged airframe and reliability made it an important workhorse of the first half of the war, until more capable versions of the P-40 series replaced it.

Spraying tips

• First work out how the fields join across the fuselage, as they have to line up from both sides.
• Paint from the lighter shades, and spray the dark field last.
• Press the edges of the masks down with a wooden stick and spray thin coats at lower pressure.
• Lift the masks off shortly after spraying, while the paint is still flexible, and the edges will stay sharp.

Who the set is for

• For builders of the P-40 in 1:32 scale who want camouflage that joins precisely across the whole airframe.
• For anyone interested in the aircraft of the North African theater.
• For modelers who prefer ready masks to hours with tape and a scalpel.