1:48 Ki-21 IB Sally Canopy Mask (ICM)

Masks for the glazing of the Ki-21-Ib in 1:48 scale

A masking set for a model of the Japanese twin-engine bomber Ki-21-Ib in 1:48 scale. The shapes are cut for the ICM kit, so they match its glazing frames and you do not have to cut them laboriously from tape.

The real subject

The Ki-21 was a heavy bomber of the Japanese Army Air Force, to which the Allies gave the code designation Sally. It entered service at the end of the 1930s and in various roles it lasted practically through the whole war in the Pacific. For a modeler it is characterized by extensive glazing of the nose and the gun positions; masking an area like that by hand takes more time than spraying the camouflage itself.

How to use the masks

• Wash and degrease the glazing first, as a mask does not hold on a greasy surface and paint creeps under it.
• Lift the individual pieces off the sheet with the tip of a scalpel or with tweezers, because the edges wrinkle easily under the fingers.
• Lay the mask on the frame, press it down in the middle and only then press the edges home.
• Masking is always done before spraying: first the interior shade, then the base and the camouflage.
• Let the paint set and lift the masks while the film is still flexible; they tear out of a fully cured coat.
• Wipe off the adhesive residue after lifting with a cotton swab dampened in alcohol.

Who the set is for

For builders of the Ki-21 in 1:48 scale who care about sharp, straight glazing frames with no paint running over. It also saves the work of uncovering the small windows, which are the hardest to cut. The range of the sheet and the recommended order of the steps are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

The package contains masks only. The kit, paints, glue and tools are not included, unless stated otherwise.