1:72 Aichi E16A1 Zuiun mask (for Fujimi, Hobby 2000)

Aichi E16A1 Zuiun mask set 1:72 (Omask)

This item is a modeling aid for painting – a set of precisely shaped self-adhesive masks for a model of the Aichi E16A1 Zuiun in 1:72 scale. It is not an aircraft model and not a kit: the package contains no plastic parts, only masks. The set is intended for the kits of this aircraft from Fujimi and from Hobby 2000.

The maker is the Czech company Omask, which specializes in masks cut from self-adhesive kabuki tape (Japanese washi paper). This tape shapes well into curves and holds on the surface, yet it does not lift dried paint and leaves no adhesive behind. The masks are stuck onto the clear parts, so the canopy framing only has to be oversprayed and, once the mask is removed, an edge that is sharp and straight remains – a result that is hard to achieve by hand with a brush or with tape in the very small 1:72 scale.

The real subject

The Aichi E16A1 Zuiun was a Japanese two-seat floatplane reconnaissance aircraft of the Second World War, capable of dive attacks as well. It served with the Imperial Japanese Navy, taking off from the water and from warship catapults, and the Allies gave it the code name Paul. Its characteristic large glazed cockpit is exactly the place where a mask set pays off most.

Use

• Lift the mask carefully off its backing with pointed tweezers or the tip of a knife.
• Stick it onto a clean, degreased clear part and press the edges down thoroughly with a toothpick.
• Spray in thin coats – a heavy coat of paint can bleed under the edge of the mask.
• Remove the mask while the paint is still freshly dried, not after weeks of curing.
• Never remove mask residue with aggressive solvents – there is a risk of fogging the clear parts.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the Zuiun in 1:72 scale and want a cleanly sprayed cockpit without lengthy hand masking. You will appreciate the accessory especially if you spray with an airbrush and care about sharp edges.

This is a masking aid, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.