1:72 Defiant Mk.I - pro modely Airfix 2015

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I 1:72 — Peewit

A set of die-cut self-adhesive masks in 1:72 scale from the Czech company Peewit. It is not an aircraft model but an add-on for painting a finished kit. The masks are punched out of thin masking tape, so they can be laid onto rounded surfaces and peeled off after spraying without leaving any adhesive behind. The manufacturer designed it for the Defiant kit from Airfix dating from 2015.

What the set is for

Cutting the masking for the canopy frames out of tape by hand is the most time-consuming part of painting an aircraft model, and a single inaccurate cut ruins the whole canopy. A pre-punched set does away with that work: the pieces are simply peeled off the carrier sheet and seated in place.

The real subject

The Defiant was a British fighter with an unusual concept: it had no fixed forward-firing armament at all, and its whole firepower was a four-gun powered turret behind the pilot. The concept did not prove itself against German fighters, and after heavy losses the machines moved to night fighting, where they did surprisingly well. For a modeler the Defiant is interesting precisely because of that turret: besides the frames of the pilot's cockpit, the glazing of the turret and the fairings around it have to be masked as well.

Usage tips

• Lift the mask with tweezers and keep your fingers off the adhesive side
• Press the edges down with a toothpick so that paint does not creep under them
• Spray the glazing in the frame color first, then the camouflage
• Remove the mask once the paint has set, not after it has cured

Who the set is for

For modelers who want cleanly bounded glazing frames, and for anyone who wants to save themselves the tedious cutting of tape. The result does not depend on a steady hand, so the set will help beginners as well.

This is an add-on for painting, not a kit. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.