Montex 1/72 Avro Lancaster Dambuster Mask Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Montex is a very prolific hobby company from Poland that produces some magnificent resin kits, but is probably best known for their paint masks. Unlike other paint mask products, Montex was one of the first to offer window masks for the inside AND outside of each window/canopy so you can paint both sides of the part, just like the full-scale examples. In addition, Montex offers several series of masks ranging from simple window and wheel masks to complete paint schemes.

In this Maxi-Mask release, we have interior and exterior masks for all of the transparencies on the Lancaster B.III Dambuster sized for the 1/72 Airfix kit. There are a significant number of windows/transparencies on the Lancaster and one could lose their will to live having to mask each window the 'old fashioned way'. These masks alone will make the project far more enjoyable and get through the job faster. In addition to the window masks, this set has a set of wheel masks as well as a set of national and tactical markings.

What is nice about masking and painting the national and tactical markings versus decals is that you don't have any issue with decal placement, silvering, or looking out of place on a weathered wing/fuselage surface. By painting these markings, you can wear them with the rest of the surface paint so the entire paint scheme looks authentic.

There have been a few US companies that have attempted to carry the Montex line in the past, it is nice to see Victory Models pick up this line so you can have access to more options that are still in production than some of the previous importers.

My sincere thanks to Victory Models for this review sample!