Montex Super Mask
1/24 Fw 190D-9

One of the mixed blessings of scale modeling is decal technology. Through the art of waterslide or dry transfer media, you can re-create the colors and markings of any aircraft that interests the decal makers. Hopefully they'll make something of interest to you too.

At scales of 1/32 or greater however, larger decals can be quite a pain, especially over complex surfaces. After drowning the decal in setting solution and hoping for the best, you still may end up with silvering under the clear transparencies of the decal, ruining all of your hard work. At least silvering is one phenomenon not present with dry transfers, the limitation here is limited subject and scale availability.

So what's the solution? Do it the way the aircraft mechanics do it in 1:1 scale! Masks.

Montex Plastic Model Club produces a growing line of paint masks to tackle subjects that have been largely ignored by the decal world. In this release, they've produced a set of masks for the Trumpeter 1/24 Fw 190D-9. Like the decal makers, they've included profiles and masks for two particular aircraft:

• Fw 190D-9, White 11, 13./JG 5, Eggersdorf, April 1945
• Fw 190D-9, White 1, 13./JG 5, Eggersdorf, April 1945

This mask set provides the side markings for these two particular aircraft, plus stencils for the upper, lower and fuselage side national markings and the swastikas for the tail.

So what's the big deal? You can paint up your aircraft according to the color profiles above (or use any other color profile) and use these national marking masks to render the markings in paint, not decal - no silvering or special finishing required!

One other nice touch in this set is not one, but TWO sets of canopy masks. Why? This set allows you to paint that huge canopy and windscreen like the real aircraft - outside colors on the outside, inside colors (RLM 66) on the INSIDE! This set takes the detailing of your model to the next step. The whole part is masked and finished inside and out.

Whether you choose to replicate these particular JG 5 aircraft or not, these masks will give you the freedom from decal woes and the flexibility to create your own subjects.

Highly recommended! You can purchase this set online from Design & Marketing International.

My sincere thanks to Design & Marketing International for this review sample!