Montex Super Mask
1/48 P-40B Tomahawk

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 1/48 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 1/48 P-40B Tomahawk, though these will look nice on the Hobbycraft, Monogram, or any of the other P-40B/C kits out there.

Markings are provided for two particular aircraft:

• P-40C, 41-13468, 31 FS, Central America, Dec 1942
• P-40B, 78 PS/18 PG, Bellows Field, Dec 1941

This mask set provides the two- or three-part masks fuselage side roundels, top of left wing, and the underside of the right wing roundels. These roundels are two-part (blue/white) for the mid-war roundels, and three-part (red/white/blue) for the early war versions.

The P-40B from Bellows Field wears the typical markings of the unit prior to their destruction on December 7th. Stencils for side number 300 and the compulsory "US Army" under the wings are also included.

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 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.

According to the manufacturer, make sure you've identified which canopy mask set goes inside and which goes outside. The inside set is slightly scaled down to compensate for inside curves in the kit part to ensure that the painted frames line up properly on completion. When I initially looked these over, I didn't see any difference, but using a micrometer, the appropriate inside masks are smaller.

Whether you choose to replicate these particular P-40B Tomahawk 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!