1:48 Ki-61-Id

Eduard 1:48 Ki-61-Id masks

A set of self-adhesive die-cut masks from the Eduard company in 1:48 scale, intended for accurate spraying of the framing of the cockpit glazing and other transparent areas of the Japanese Ki-61-Id fighter. It is neither a kit nor an airplane model, but an accessory to a kit you already own. The masks are stuck onto the clear parts and onto the wheel discs, the areas are oversprayed with paint, and once the masks are taken off crisply bounded frames remain, with no going over them by hand with a brush.

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, given the Allied code name Tony, was an unusual Japanese fighter with a liquid-cooled V engine, whose silhouette recalled European machines. The late Ki-61-Id form carried heavier armament and was among the most widespread variants of the type.

Use

• The masks follow the shape of the glazing of a particular kit in 1:48 scale — check before buying that the set matches your own kit.
• Apply them to a perfectly dry, smooth and degreased surface and press the mask down all the way round, so that paint does not run underneath.
• Spray with an airbrush in thin coats, preferably in several passes — a heavy coat will build a step at the edge of the mask.
• Spray the interior color of the cockpit first and the final exterior shade afterward; take the mask off with tweezers in an angled pull before the paint has hardened completely.
• Besides the frames of the glazing, sets usually include masks for the discs and tires of the wheels for a clean separation of colors.

Who it is for

For modelers who want the cockpit frames sprayed crisply and straight, without jagged edges and paint running over from a brush. It saves a great deal of time and nerves, above all on subdivided glazing. Basic experience with an airbrush is helpful.

An accessory for masking while spraying, it is not a model. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.