1:48 P-47B Thunderbolt double-sided painting mask

Clear Prop Models 1:48 P-47B Thunderbolt, a double-sided masking set

Self-adhesive masks from the manufacturer Clear Prop Models for a model of the Republic P-47B Thunderbolt fighter aircraft in 1:48 scale. The set is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The masks are stuck onto the clear part and replace cutting masking tape by hand.

When to take the masks off

With a double-sided set the masking is done from the inside as well as the outside, so the model spends a longer time with masks on the cockpit, and the question of when to take them off is essential. The best thing is to peel them off shortly after the last coat of paint has dried, before the varnish has fully cured. At that point the edge comes away cleanly. If the masks stay on the model for weeks, the paint thickens, and when being removed it can tear off a piece of the finish or leave matte traces of adhesive.

The real subject

The P-47 Thunderbolt was an American single-engine fighter aircraft with a radial engine and a turbocharger, one of the heaviest single-seat fighters of the war. The P-47B version was the first production variant and still had the so-called razorback fuselage arrangement with a greenhouse canopy, that is, a different cockpit from the later versions with a bubble canopy.

Masking and painting tips

Divide the work into two stages: first the interior shade from the inside, then, once it has dried, the outer masking and the airframe color. The natural metal finish of early Thunderbolts is rewarding but unforgiving of dirt, so work in a dust-free space and press the masks down all the way around.

Who the set is for

• builders of American fighters of the Second World War in 1:48
• modelers who want the frames painted from the inside too
• those who build the early version with the greenhouse canopy
• painting with an airbrush as well as a brush

The masking set is an accessory for a model, and the model itself and paints are not included in the package.