review of Plastic Model Club Montex K48025 1/48 P-47D painting masks

1/48 P-47D Razorback painting masks

product # K48025

Review by Steve Bamford on Sept 14 2005

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This Plastic Model Club Montex paint masks from Design & Marketing Int'l contains markings for 2 different 1/48 P-47D Thunderbolts.

These are painting masks to permit you to paint all the markings on these 2 aircraft. This will give you the most accurate look to your 1/48 P-47D. Painting markings on aircraft models is not new, but until now this technique has only been done by the totally dedicated modellers. Also included is one set of canopy paint masks.

The first aircraft is a P-47D with the 333rd FS, 318th FG out of Saipan in 1944. The paint scheme is Olive Drab on the topside and Neutral Gray on the underside. Artwork on the side of the nose is yellow text that reads "Lippy IV" and this is provided with paintings masks as well. National insignias are included as painting masks as are all markings on these aircraft. There is a yellow vertical stripe on the rear fuselage as well as a yellow horizontal stripe on the tail, a yellow engine cowling ring and yellow wing tips. On the side of the tail are the yellow numbers "325388".

The second aircraft is a P-47D with the 91st FS, 81st FG with the 14th Air Force. The paint scheme is Natural Aluminium overall with an Olive Drab anti-glare panel. Artwork on the side of the white nose is black text that reads "Mike" and this is provided with paintings masks as well. National insignias are included as painting masks as are all markings on these aircraft. There is a black vertical stripe on the rear fuselage as well as a black diagonal stripe on the tail and a black engine cowling ring. On the side of the tail are the black numbers "325730". There is a trick to this planes markings.....the black serial numbers on the tail cross over the black diagonal stripe.

Two of the black numbers that cross over this black stripe have thin white outlines you will need to mask and paint. The set includes different size number masks for these two numbers for you to apply one mask...paint another colour and then apply the second number mask on top of the first. So....here's the sequence. Paint the tail flat black. Apply the ful set of slightly smaller painting masks. Then paint the area white. Apply the second set of larger paint masks over the two numbers that will go under the black stripe. Paint the tail flat black again for the diagonal tail stripe. Mask the stripe and apply the bare metal finish. Complicated and exacting.....but quite do-able.

The instructions are clear and include 4 angle colour drawings to assist in painting the markings.

The concept of buying precut painting masks is one I find very attractive and for the larger scales this is one option well worth considering for your next project.......no more fears of decal silvering.

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

A very nice set of masks and will be well worth trying for anyone building a your next 1-48 P-47D Razorback.

I'd like to thank Design & Marketing Int'l for providing me with this review sample...visit their site for this and other products.

Design & Marketing Int'l are the official exclusive importer and distributor in Canada, USA and Mexico for a large and ever growing selection of products from Contact Resine, Redux and Montex. Go to their website to buy this and other products from these and other brands of detail products.
Steve