1:48 C5M2 Babs National Insignias And Markings (For Fine Molds Kits)

C5M2 Babs 1:48, insignia and markings sprayed in paint

The hinomaru on the wing is a large circle, and it is on large areas that a decal behaves worst: it needs a lot of softener, it shifts easily and it wrinkles over a ripple of the skin. A masking template gets around these troubles simply by not having the insignia applied at all: it arises straight from paint on the surface of the model. On such a large circle it also helps that once the template is lifted the edge can be corrected with a brush without trouble.

The product is meant for the Fine Molds kit. That is bought separately.

Mitsubishi C5M2

The C5M was the naval offshoot of the army Ki-15 and the Allies listed it under the code name Babs. The C5M2 version received a more powerful radial engine and served as a fast reconnaissance machine that was to find a target and disappear without losing time, as its defensive armament was minimal. It was exactly this kind of machine that guided the attack formations in the first months of the Pacific war. You will not meet it on a shelf often, and all the more attention is paid to the cleanness of the work on it.

What to watch out for

• The base has to be smooth, otherwise an unevenness will print through into the insignia.
• Press the template onto a rounded leading edge gradually, not all at once.
• Let the coat set thoroughly between the white base and the red.
• Check the richness of the red on an offcut, not directly on the model.
• Apply the base under a large circle in two thin coats.
• Pull the template away slowly, from the edge toward the center.

Who the set is for

For builders of prewar and early war Japanese naval types who want the insignia without a glossy frame. The contents are masking for the insignia, and the fuselage and wings do not come with it.