1:72 Mitsubishi F-2A Viper Zero J.A.S.D.F. Camouflage Paint Mask Set

A Japanese fighter in 1:72

The 1:72 scale makes different demands on masking sets than the larger scales. The fields are tiny, the distances between the edges are counted in millimeters and ordinary tape cut with a knife simply is not enough here. It is precisely in this scale that cut film pays off most, because it takes the place of work that most modelers would not do accurately enough by hand. The subject is a single-engine machine which Japanese industry derived from an American basis and gave a substantially larger wing area.

A small scale, thin coats

The shades stay the same as on larger models of the same type, but the method of application changes fundamentally. Thin the paint more than usual, feel free to go to a ratio that will seem exaggerated to you, and spray from a shorter distance at a lower pressure. In this scale a heavy coat literally swallows the detail of the surface and fills in the engraving of the panel lines, which then cannot be restored.

What to have at hand

• Tweezers with a very fine tip, ideally curved, for handling millimeter-sized pieces.
• A fresh blade, because a blunt point tears a small piece instead of separating it.
• A magnifying glass or a loupe for checking that the edges have seated.
• A light-colored base on which the cut pieces will not get lost.

The most frequent mistake in this scale is not imprecise sticking but impatience in lifting the masks off. A small piece sticks more firmly than you expect, and if you pull it away perpendicular to the surface it takes the paint with it. Always pull it low over the surface and against the direction in which you laid it down. Degrease the model thoroughly before work, as grease from your fingers shows more in a small scale than anywhere else.