1:48 OV-10? Bronco BASIC kabuki masks

The real subject

The OV-10 Bronco is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft with a pair of tail booms, built for observation, fire control and light strikes from low altitude. Its cockpit glazing is unusually extensive, because the crew had to be able to see straight down. That is exactly what makes masking the cockpit one of the most time-consuming parts of the build.

What the set offers

The masks are cut from kabuki paper, that is from a thin paper tape with a gentle adhesive. It holds its shape, can be pressed into a curve and leaves no residue on a clear part once peeled off. The individual pieces are lifted out of the sheet with tweezers and laid on to follow the shape of the frames. The BASIC qualifier denotes the basic extent of the set; which pieces it covers exactly is given by the manufacturer's instructions.

How to use the masks

• wash the clear part before masking and let it dry completely, as tape will not hold on grease
• lift the mask out with tweezers or the point of a scalpel and lay it on to follow the frame
• press the edges down with a toothpick, so that no paint seeps under them
• the masks are applied before spraying, not onto dried paint
• apply the paint in thin coats, as a heavy coat creates a ridge at the edge of the mask
• once dry, remove the mask slowly and at an angle, not straight upward

Who it is for

For anyone who does not want to cut frames from tape by hand. Hand masking betrays even the best painting through an uneven width of frame, and on an aircraft with this many windows that goes double.

Terms of supply

A masking set is supplied. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.