1:72 Ki-61 I Hien

The real subject

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was an exception among Japanese fighters of the Second World War: instead of a radial engine it was given a liquid-cooled inverted V12, thanks to which it has a slender, pointed nose. The Allies at first took it for a machine of German origin and gave it the code name Tony. The Ki-61-I is the first production series of the type.

What the set contains

A mask set for this aircraft in 1:72 scale. What is laid out on the sheet, and which kit it is for, is stated in the manufacturer's instructions. In 1:72 scale masking is especially useful: the frames of the glazing are so narrow that they practically cannot be drawn straight by hand, and a strip of tape cut to size tends to be wider than the frame itself.

Work tips

• Wash and degrease the surfaces before applying the masks, as a mask will not hold on grease
• Move the parts with tweezers and lay them on dry first
• Press the edges down with a toothpick so that paint does not creep underneath
• Spray the frames with the interior shade first, then with the exterior color
• Spray several light coats square to the mask
• Lift the mask off while the paint is still fresh, pulling at a sharp angle

Who it is for

The set is for a modeler who does not want to spend an hour cutting strips of masking tape over a small model and wants the frames to be the same width along their whole length. It is also worth it for anyone building several examples of the same type who needs them to look uniform.

Terms of supply

The masks are supplied. The model, paints, decals and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.