1:48 Fw 190D-9 mask (for Miniart 48040)

Masks for the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9, 1:48 scale

This is a masking set, not a model of the aircraft. It contains shaped cut masks for covering the glazing and other areas during painting. The set is cut for the MiniArt kit with the designation 48040. That detail matters here, because the same maker offers masks under the same name for other kits of the same aircraft as well, and the individual toolings have a different shape of glazing. A mask cut for another kit therefore will not fit and would have to be trimmed, which defeats its purpose.

The real subject

The Fw 190D-9 was the version of the German fighter with a liquid-cooled inverted V12 engine, that is with the cylinders set below the crankshaft. Compared with the older machines with a radial engine it was recognized by its lengthened nose and lengthened rear fuselage, which was needed to balance the change of the center of gravity. The cylindrical radiator cowling on the nose resembled a radial engine from the outside, so the type still confuses people today.

Usage tips

• First wash the glazing in lukewarm water with detergent and let it dry; grease from your fingers makes a mask hold worse.
• 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 at right angles and in thin coats; an angled spray runs under the edge.
• Take the masks off while the paint is fresh and pull them back at a sharp angle.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who are building the stated kit and want sharp cockpit frames without cutting tape by hand. In 1:48 scale a frame is less than a millimeter wide and cannot be drawn accurately by hand.

It is not a model of the aircraft. The kit, paints and varnish are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.