1:32 Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden Undercarriage Bay Masks

The real subject

The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden was an interceptor of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, built against high-altitude bombers. It differed from the slender carrier fighters in its bulky fuselage and short wing, with the emphasis on rate of climb. The J2M3 version was the most numerous of the type and carried its armament in the wing; the Allies knew the aircraft under the code name Jack.

What the set contains

Masks for the landing gear bay spaces in 1:32 scale. They cover the openings of the bays at the time the surrounding surfaces are sprayed, so that no overspray gets inside and the edge between the paint of the bay and the surface finish stays crisp. Compare the shapes with the model you are building.

Building and painting tips

• Paint the bays and let them dry before you fit the masks and start spraying the surroundings.
• Press the edges of the mask down with a toothpick all the way around, otherwise the paint creeps inside the bay.
• Keep them on for the varnishing too: the same mask protects the bay during a matte or a gloss overspray.
• Lift the mask off with tweezers at a shallow angle right after the last coat has set.

Who it is for

The set suits the modeler who builds in a large scale with open bays and wants their edge clean without laborious tidying up with a brush. It is a stand-alone masking set; the model, the paints and the glue are not supplied with it, unless stated otherwise.