1:48 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I one-sided painting mask for Airfix

Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, single-sided painting mask 1:48 (Art Scale)

Pre-cut painting masks for the Bristol Blenheim Mk.I kit from Airfix in 1:48 scale. The set covers the glazing while spraying, so that the framing of the glazed nose, the cockpit and the turret stays sharp and equally wide. It is not a kit or a finished model but an accessory for painting. The single-sided version means that the sheet contains masks for the outer side of the glazing; you can mask the inner sides of the frames yourself if you wish, or leave them in the color of the part.

Applying and spraying

Degrease the clear part and let it dry. Take the masks out of the sheet with the tip of a scalpel, lay them on the frames and press them down with a wooden toothpick all around the perimeter. Where a mask overhangs the edge of the part, trim it with a fresh blade along the outline. Cover the rest of the model with tape or liquid mask. Spray the paint in several thin coats with a short flash-off; a single heavy coat will run under the edge. Once dry to the touch, lift the mask and pull it back at an angle over itself so that the edge of the finish does not chip.

The real subject

The Bristol Blenheim Mk.I was a British twin-engine light bomber of the second half of the 1930s with Bristol Mercury radial engines. Its characteristic features are the glazed nose and the dorsal gun turret, so the model has an unusually large area of glazing with many small frames. Hand masking is particularly laborious here, and unevenly wide framing shows in the result at once.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Blenheim Mk.I model in 1:48 scale
• Modelers for whom masking the outer side of the glazing is enough
• Builds with the glazing closed, where the inside of the frames is not visible
• Anyone who does not want to trim dozens of strips of tape

The mask is an accessory, not a kit. The basic Airfix kit, paints, glue and thinners are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.