1:48 Paint mask Mitsubishi F1M2 Type Zero (HAS)

The Mitsubishi F1M2 observation floatplane

This biplane with one large central float and a pair of auxiliary floats under the wings first flew in 1936. The Imperial Japanese Navy introduced it under the designation Type Zero, and the Allies assigned it the code name Pete. Production ran from 1940 to 1944 and more than a thousand examples were built, so it was the most widespread catapult machine of the Japanese fleet.

It launched from the catapults of battleships, heavy cruisers and seaplane tenders alike. It spotted for the fire of large-caliber guns, searched the sea for submarines, escorted coastal convoys and in remote corners of the Pacific occasionally went into air combat as well. For a float biplane it was remarkably agile, and the pilots praised its handling. It did most of its work in the Solomon Islands, where it patrolled over the straits between the islands from forward anchorages.

How the set works

The thin self-adhesive film is die-cut to the shape of the individual bars and arcs of the canopy according to the moldings of the Hasegawa kit in 1:48 scale. The pieces are peeled off the backing sheet with tweezers, laid on the clear molding and pressed down with a fingernail or a toothpick. The edge of the paint then comes out sharp and the varnish bleeds nowhere.

The material takes curvature well, so it does not crumple or fold even on a domed canopy. It stands up to acrylic as well as alcohol-based shades and after spraying it can be taken off without adhesive residue on the glass. The rendition is one-sided, that is it allows for spraying from the outside. The paints and the plastic kit themselves are obtained separately. It will do the sheet good if you store it flat and away from heat until the build, so that the adhesive layer does not harden.