Masking windows

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I've bitten the bullet and ordered an Italeri C-130J, my first actual plastic kit for decades.

I want to spray it but preferably once the fuselage / wings are completed. Would the panel recommend putting the windows in and masking or some other method like trying to insert them once painted?

Much easier with model trains the bodyshell lifts off the chassis so you can put everything back in after a respray

[neil_davidson2]

Personally I'd install the windows before painting for a number of reasons which include but are probably not limited to:

• You might need to do some filling around the windows after fitting
• The window frames may well be moulded integrally in the clear parts (especially for the cockpit front screens) and you'll want to try & paint them at the same time as the rest of the body to maintain consistency in the paint coverage
• You run the risk of pushing the parts through to the interior (been there, done that)

Given the size of the subject I think I'd probably try & mask the panes before fitting them to avoid having to handle the whole airframe as masking can be fiddly enough. It'll also offer a degree of protection if you do end up having to do some filling & sanding.

I don't know if it's the case for the kit you've ordered but several companies make pre-cut aircraft masks which can save a fair bit of time & frustration.

Hope that helps a little.

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Ok thanks; I'm not that worried about any small gaps around the round windows. It arrived yesterday but was the E/H not J model so it's gone back, I want one in the all over grey livery and the E/H model it has decals for was scrapped long before they changed the livery (they are also much too big!)

I'll have a dry run inserting the windows before I spray it. I was thinking that they needed to go in from the inside of the fuselage?

BTW is Tamiya neutral gray (sic) the correct colour for the RAF?

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Ok thanks; I'm not that worried about any small gaps around the round windows. It arrived yesterday but was the E/H not J model so it's gone back, I want one in the all over grey livery and the E/H model it has decals for was scrapped long before they changed the livery (they are also much too big!)

I'll have a dry run inserting the windows before I spray it. I was thinking that they needed to go in from the inside of the fuselage?

BTW is Tamiya neutral gray (sic) the correct colour for the RAF? I settled on Dark Ghost Grey as that looked the nearest in a spray tin in the shop. The plane in question ZH885 has gone back to the USAF and is in Blue Angels livery!

[neil_davidson2]

I don't use Tamiya paints so somebody else will be better placed to provide guidance, but from a quick check on the net it looks like Tamiya don't produce an exact match for Barley/Camo grey but I've seen people have used XF-19 which is "Sky Grey" and looks a little lighter.

You may well be right about having to install the windows from inside the fuselage, I've had kits do it both ways so definitely check the instructions & dry fit like you said.

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The plane in question seems to have been painted so many times!

This looks like the best scheme (or easiest at least!) and looks the right shade of grey

https://www.airhistory.net/photo/100689/ZH885