1:48 Mitsubishi Isshikirikko Type 11 G4M1 Painting (tamiya)

The real subject

The Mitsubishi G4M is a Japanese twin-engine land-based naval bomber of the Second World War, designated in Japanese as type one, which transcribes into the Latin alphabet as Isshikirikko. The Type 11 guise is its early production version. The fuselage carries glazing along practically its whole length: a glazed nose, the cockpit, side observation blisters and the rear position. On a model in 1:48 scale that means long hours with adhesive tape, unless the builder helps himself with ready-made masks.

What the set solves

The set holds pre-shaped masks for painting, that is pieces matching the individual panes of the glazing. They are prepared for the Tamiya kit in 1:48 scale, so the shape of the panes matches its parts and nothing has to be guessed at. The precisely cut edge keeps the frames the same width along their whole length, which is exactly what decides the impression a finished model makes with a subject as glazed as this.

Usage tips

• Wash and degrease the glazing before sticking the masks on; a mask does not hold on a greasy surface.
• Stick the masks on before spraying and press them down all around with a toothpick.
• Complete the uncovered areas between the masks with tape or with masking putty.
• Apply the paint in thin layers; a thick layer peels off when they are removed.
• Once the paint has dried, lift the masks with tweezers, and sooner rather than after a week.
• You do not have to mask the inner sides of the glazing if you paint the cockpit before gluing the fuselage together.

Who it is for

For builders of large twin-engine machines who spray and do not want to spend an evening cutting strips. Working with masks is simple even for a less experienced modeler, and on a subject with this many windows it saves a genuinely noticeable amount of time.

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