1:72 Ki-61 II KAI Hien Bubletop

The real subject

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was an army fighter of imperial Japan that differed from the other home machines at first sight: instead of a short, wide fuselage it had a slim airframe with a pointed nose. The Allies therefore credited it at first with European origins and gave it the code name Tony. The Ki-61-II KAI rendition is a later development stage with a modified airframe, and some of them were completed with a cut-down rear fuselage and a bubble canopy, which gave the pilot a view to the rear.

What the set offers

The masks are cut in advance and exactly to 1:72 scale, where small areas are already hard to mask with tape. The edge comes out sharp and the same on both sides of the model, which is exactly what handwork with tape and a blade usually fails to achieve. The range of the set and the placing of the individual pieces are shown in the manufacturer's instructions.

• Masks for a Ki-61-II KAI Hien model in 1:72 scale
• The rendition with a bubble canopy
• Pre-cut shapes, applied before spraying
• A sharp, symmetrical transition between shades

Tips for working with masks

The base has to be clean, degreased and dry before applying, otherwise the mask will not hold and paint will get under the edge. Lay the mask on, press it down above all around the perimeter and apply the paint in several thin coats, because a single heavy coat is drawn under the edge and blurs it. Lift them shortly after the paint has dried, at a sharp angle and with tweezers. On clear parts apply the mask before the cockpit is built, so that you can reach the glass comfortably.

Who it is for

For modelers who build Japanese fighters in a small scale and want sharp edges without slow cutting of tape. This is an accessory to a model; paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.