1:48 Ki-43-I Hayabusa one-sided express mask, self-adhesive and pre-cutted for Hasegawa

Art Scale 1:48 Ki-43-I Hayabusa, single-sided masking set

Pre-cut self-adhesive masks for the glazing of the Nakajima Ki-43-I kit from Hasegawa in 1:48 scale. This is an accessory for painting, not a model of the aircraft. The name gives the single-sided form, that is masks for the outer face of the glass. The double-sided variant, with masks for the inner face as well, is a separate item.

How to get a mask onto curved glass

The glazing of a single-seat fighter is not a flat surface, and it is at the curves that a mask most often lifts. It helps to go at it patiently: lay the part on dry first and check where it will need pressing down. Lift the mask off the sheet with pointed tweezers or a toothpick moistened against the edge so that it does not crease. Lay it down by one edge and only then press it across the curve with a rolling movement. Press the ends and corners down with a blunt stick, not with a fingernail. A hairline gap on a sharply curved place can be made up with a narrow strip of ordinary masking tape. Before you start spraying, look at the part against the light; a glint under the edge of a mask reliably gives away a place where the paint would run under.

The real subject

The Ki-43 Hayabusa, designated Oscar by the Allies, was a light Japanese fighter. Version I is the earliest production form. Models in 1:48 scale have narrow cockpit frames set close together, so cutting masks out of tape by hand tends to be a long job with an uneven result.

Who the set is for

• Modelers whose main concern is quick, clean masking from the outside.
• Builders who close the cockpit up and do not need inner masking.
• Anyone who wants to save time on the longest part of painting.

The kit and paints are not included in the package. Check the number of mask parts and the material of the film on the packaging of the set.