1:72 Junkers Ju-52/3mg4e Masking Set

Masking set for the Ju 52/3m, 1:72 scale

This is a masking set, not a model. The Ju 52 is among the aircraft on which masking the glazing takes longer than on a fighter, and for two reasons. The cockpit has complex front glazing with a great many frames, and besides that the whole passenger cabin is glazed, that is a row of windows along both sides of the fuselage. Cutting tape by hand would be a whole evening of work, and the edges still would not come out the same. Pre-cut masks match the shape of the parts and have a hard edge along their whole length.

The real subject

The Junkers Ju 52/3m was a German three-engine transport and airliner with a corrugated duralumin skin, by which it can be recognized at first glance. That skin was not an ornament but a structural solution: the corrugation gave the thin sheet rigidity. The machine was used as an airliner, a paratroop transport, an air ambulance and an auxiliary bomber, and it served long after the war.

Usage tips

• First wash the glazing in lukewarm soapy water and let it dry.
• Transfer the mask with tweezers or a damp stick, not with a finger.
• Press the edges down with a blunt toothpick, so that no air pocket is left anywhere.
• Spray square on and in thin coats; on a corrugated skin watch that paint does not run under the edge.
• Take the masks off while the finish is still fresh and pull them back at a sharp angle.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who build this type and do not want to spend an evening cutting tape. The masks are cut to the shape of the parts of a particular kit, so check before buying that they match yours.

It is not a model. The kit, paints and clear coat are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.