1:72 Tornado IDS canopy mask

The real subject

The Panavia Tornado IDS is a two-seat attack aircraft with a variable-sweep wing, developed in cooperation between Great Britain, Germany and Italy. It served for decades as the main strike machine of these countries and saw a number of interesting color schemes, from muted ones to desert ones. The cabin is a two-seat one, so the glazing is fairly long and its framing catches the attention on a model.

What the set contains

Masking elements for the glazing of the cabin of a model of the Tornado IDS in 1:72 scale, as the name gives directly. In this scale cutting masks out of tape by hand is especially thankless, because the individual frames are narrow and irregular. Which kit the set is prepared for and whether it covers the inner side as well is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The masks are stuck on before spraying, onto a washed and degreased part. In a small scale tweezers with a fine tip and good light help.

• press the edges down with a blunt tip, so that paint does not run under them
• first spray the shade of the inner framing, and only then the top color
• apply the paint in thin coats; a thick coat fills the fine edges in
• take the masks off shortly after the paint has dried, not several days later

Who it is for

For a modeler who is building the Tornado in 1:72 scale and wants the framing of the cabin sharp and straight. The package contains a masking set; a kit, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.