1:48 Fw 190D masks for control surfaces (for Miniart)

Control surface masks for the Fw 190D, 1:48 scale

This is a masking set, not a model. It aims at a different job from ordinary glazing masks: at the control surfaces, that is the ailerons, the elevator, the rudder and the flaps. On German machines these surfaces were fabric-covered and in reality differed from the surrounding metal surface in shade and in sheen. A modeler imitates that with a fine difference of tone, but the boundary between the surface and its surroundings has to be precise and to follow the real outline, which is not straight. A pre-cut mask solves that job and guarantees that both halves of the model will match.

The real subject

The Fw 190D was the version of the German fighter with a liquid-cooled inverted V12. Against the earlier machines with a radial engine it could be told by its lengthened nose and lengthened rear fuselage. Like most machines of its day it had fabric-covered control surfaces on a metal frame.

Usage tips

• The surface has to be fully cured; on fresh paint the mask will pull the finish off when it is removed.
• Transfer the mask with tweezers and press the edge down with a blunt toothpick along its whole length.
• Cover the rest of the area with paper or film; the masks cover only the outline itself.
• Keep the difference in tone subtle; a marked change of shade reads as a mistake, not as a material.
• 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 are finishing a surface and want to set the fabric-covered areas apart from the metal ones. It is a detail that only an experienced eye notices, but details like that are exactly what sets a well-built model apart.

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