1:48 H-21C Shawnee

The real subject

The H-21 Shawnee is an American transport helicopter with a pair of main rotors mounted in tandem, one above the nose and the other above the tail. The fuselage is swept upward at both ends so that the rotor blades keep clear of each other, and it is exactly that outline which earned the machine the nickname flying banana. The C version served with the US Army as a transport helicopter. The cabin is glazed to the sides and forward and there are further windows in the fuselage, so masking takes a fair amount of work on the model.

What the set contains

Pre-cut painting masks for a model of the H-21C Shawnee in 1:48 scale. The material is kabuki paper tape. It holds just enough to keep paint from getting under the edge, it can be pressed down even into a curve, and it leaves no adhesive behind once lifted. Cutting tape by hand along the frames therefore falls away, and on a machine with this many windows that shows both in the time taken and in the result. What the set covers is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

How to work with the masks

• Try the mask on dry before you start spraying.
• Stick them onto paint that is thoroughly dry, and always before spraying, never after.
• Move them with tweezers and press the edges down with a toothpick, not with a fingernail.
• Spray perpendicular to the surface and in several thin coats; a heavy coat will bleed under the edge.
• Lift the masks off shortly after the paint has set and pull them at an angle across the edge.

Who it is for

For modelers who build helicopters and do not want to spend an evening cutting tape around every frame. The kit itself, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.