1:48 C-47A, C-48C, DC-3 BASIC kabuki masks

Masking set 1:48 for the C-47A, C-48C and DC-3, BASIC coverage (New Ware)

Cut self-adhesive masks from kabuki tape for models of the Douglas DC-3 airliner and its military versions C-47A and C-48C in 1:48 scale. BASIC is the entry grade of the New Ware range — it covers what you need first during the build, that is the main masking, without the extra elements that the higher grades of the set offer.

Why masks are most worthwhile on the DC-3

An airliner has many times more glazed areas than a fighter: a cockpit with divided windshields and a row of windows along the fuselage. Cutting tape by hand for that many frames is several evenings of work, and a single inaccurate cut is enough to make one frame noticeably wider than the one next to it — and that is exactly what the eye finds first on a finished model. A pre-cut mask sits on the shape the way the manufacturer designed it, so all the frames come out the same and the work shrinks to a fraction of the time.

Usage tips

Kabuki tape is paper, so it can be stretched a little over gentle curves, but do not overdo it — on a pronounced curve it is better to cut it. Always lay the mask down dry, check its position and only then press it down around the edge with a toothpick. First spray the shade that is to be on the inner side of the frame (usually the cockpit interior color) and only after it has dried the airframe color; the transition then looks as it does on the real aircraft. Apply the paint in several thin coats and take the mask off shortly after it has dried.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the DC-3, C-47A or C-48C in 1:48 scale.
• Those who want the basic coverage of masks rather than the wider range of the higher grades.
• Builders who dislike cutting tape by hand for dozens of windows.
• Beginners who want to try working with pre-cut masks for the first time.

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