1:72 CH-46 painting mask

The real subject

The CH-46 is an American transport helicopter with a pair of main rotors in tandem, that is with one rotor above the nose and the second above the raised tail. It served above all with the United States Marine Corps and Navy for carrying troops and materiel. The cockpit has extensive glazing and there is a row of small windows in the sides of the fuselage, so the framing is very visible on a model.

What the set contains

Die-cut masks for painting the glazing of the CH-46 helicopter in 1:72 scale. The masks follow the shape of the individual panes, so the frames stay sharp and straight after spraying and the laborious covering with hand-cut tape falls away. It is precisely a cleanly separated frame and glass that is among the first things seen on a finished helicopter.

How to use the masks

They are applied to clean and degreased glazing before spraying. Separate the individual pieces from the sheet with a sharp blade, move them onto the glass with tweezers and press the edges down carefully, so that paint cannot get underneath. Usually the shade of the cockpit interior is sprayed first and only then the external finish. Take the mask off shortly after the paint has dried, before the finish has had time to harden, and pull it along the surface, not straight away from it.

Who it is for

For the modeler who is building the CH-46 in 1:72 scale and wants sharp glazing frames without hours spent with masking tape. Tweezers with fine tips, a sharp blade and good lighting come in useful, as the windows are small in this scale. The set does not hold a kit, paints or glue, unless stated otherwise.