Montex Super Mask
1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vc Special Edition

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. This release takes that theme up a few notches!

In this special edition release, Montex provides the usual array of nice transparency masks as well as masks for two distinctive aircraft. What's new is the VERY nicely cast resin conversion parts to convert the Tamiya Mk.Vb into a Mk.Vc.

You can see in the two images on the right how Montex has literally replaced the three-piece styrene wing with a one-piece drop-in replacement. The wheel wells are beautifully rendered and the rest of the wing will accept the appropriate kit parts of radiators, wingtips, etc.

Also included in this conversion is a different spinner and propeller combination used by one of the two Mk.Vc examples featured in this set.

Markings are provided for two particular aircraft:

• Spitfire Mk.Vc Trop, BR123, 603 Sqn, U-2, aboard USS Wasp for Operation Torch, April 1942
• Spitfire Mk.Vc JK723, 249 Sqn, GN-V, Italy 1943

This mask set provides the two-part masks for the fuselage side roundels, as well as the aircraft identification numbers, top and bottom wing markings and distinctive aircraft markings.

One other nice touch in this set is not one, but TWO sets of window masks. Why? This set allows you to paint all of those windows 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.

Whether you choose to replicate these particular Spitfire Mk.Vc 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!