Painting and Canopy Masks

RES-IM, 1/32 and 1/48 scales

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard Brassin’s 1/72 M117 Bombs (Late) are available online from Squadron.com

As well as a wide variety of resin and photo-etched details, Czech aftermarket company RES-IM Resin Improvement produces paint and canopy masking sets in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scales.  The three paint mask and one canopy mask sets examined here represent a good cross-section of the range offered by RES-IM.

RES-IM’s approach differs from that of other manufacturers, such as Montex, in that its paint mask sets are deliberately ‘bare boned’.  They are kit-specific and allow modellers to replicate, in paint, the same markings the kit manufacturers have provided as decals; no other schemes are provided. 

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Thumbnail panels:

With this in mind, marking options for the paint mask sets under review are as follows:

Revell 1/32 Arado 196 A-3

• T3+LH, Borderfliegergruppe 196, Battleship Tirpitz, Summer 1943

• D1+CN, III./KG 100 at Kalamaki, Crete, Jan 1943

Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb

• EN821/SN-M of No.243 Squadron

• BL479/SZ-X of No.316 Squadron

• AGM of Wing Commander A.G. Malan

Tamiya 1/48 British Light Utility Car

• RAF and Army markings
• Window and wheel hub masks

In each case, the kit decal sheet will still be required to supply smaller, more complex markings such as unit insignia.

The paint masks are cut onto a low-tack PVC film (brand name ‘Oramask 810’).  I haven’t tested them using paint but the tape peels easily off the backing paper and adheres well, but not too tightly, to plastic surfaces, which should make positioning the masks reasonably straightforward.  I’d recommend burnishing them down carefully, and checking to make sure none have lifted before you start airbrushing.

RES-IM prints its canopy mask sets on the same type of yellow Kabuki masking tape used by Eduard and Tamiya.  This type of pre-cut mask has become an essential part of my modelling toolkit – until now I’ve used Eduard sets but looking at the review sample for Tamiya’s 1/48 Meteor F.1, I would also be happy to use RES-IM’s masks.  The individual masking segments have been cleanly cut and, applied with care and with any gaps filled with tape or liquid mask, look like they will deliver a good result.

RES-IM provides no instructions for either the paint or canopy masks.  This helps helps keep prices down but also puts the onus on the modeller to study the sets in conjunction with kit instructions and/or parts, and identify where each mask goes before removing it from the backing paper.

I recommend RES-IM’s paint masks as a high-quality, reasonably low-cost alternative to decals.  They are designed for airbrushing rather than brush painting and this, along with the lack of instructions, makes them more suitable for experienced modellers.

Thanks to Resin Improvement for the review sample.

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Review Text & Images Copyright © 2016 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 27 July, 2016
Last updated 28 July, 2016

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