1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Painting Masks (IBG)

What the masks are for

Painting masks do away with the laborious lining of canopy frames with strips of adhesive tape. They are die-cut to shape, transferred onto the model with tweezers and taken off after spraying, so that the edge of the paint stays sharp and the glazing clean. In a small scale such as 1:72 this is a noticeable saving of time, because the canopy frames are narrow and trimming tape on them by hand usually ends in a ragged edge.

The real subject

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British fighter of the Second World War that was built in many versions. The shape of the canopy, the windscreen and the glazing differs between versions, which is why the masks are always die-cut to a particular kit.

How they are used

The masks are applied before spraying, onto a finished and degreased surface. Separate the individual pieces with a sharp blade, transfer them with tweezers and press them down so that nothing stands proud anywhere around the edge. Only then spray, preferably in several thin coats, so that the paint does not creep under the edge. Take the mask off while the paint is merely dry to the touch; on a fully cured coat there is a risk of the edge flaking off. Wipe away any adhesive residue with a cotton swab moistened with spirit.

Who they are for

For the modeler who is building a Spitfire in 1:72 scale and wants straight canopy frames without lengthy masking with tape. Before applying them, compare the shape of the masks with the glazing of the particular kit. The package contains only the masks; the kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.