Common Questions (and Quick Answers)
How do I know a canopy mask set fits my kit?
Each canopy mask product page includes a 🚩 KITS IT FITS 🚩 section that lists the kits we’ve confirmed compatibility with.
All of our canopy masks are designed and test-fit on real kit clear parts. To confirm the kit we used to design the masks, look for the kit number in the set title.
➡️ Example: Monogram McDonnell Douglas F-101/F-101B Voodoo 1/48 Canopy & Wheel Paint Masks, Kit # 5811
If your exact kit isn’t listed in the 🚩 KITS IT FITS 🚩 section and you’re unsure if our set will fit your kit, just reach out before ordering — we’re always happy to help you confirm fit or suggest the best option.
Are canopy masks beginner-friendly?
Many of our canopy masks are very beginner-friendly and a great place to start if you’re new to paint masks. Some canopy and marking masks are more complex and will require patience and careful placement.
If a set is especially challenging, we try to note that in the product description. And if you’re ever unsure, we’re happy to help you decide before you begin.
Why did my mask lift?
A small amount of lifting can happen on tight curves or compound surfaces. This is normal and usually easy to manage. A few helpful tips:
- Wash all plastic parts in warm soapy water and let dry. This removes any mould release agents that may be left behind on the plastic during manufacturing.
- Use fine-tip tweezers, good lighting, and magnification for precise placement
- Use masking fluid on tricky areas
- Lightly warm the mask with a hair dryer to increase flexibility
- Make small relief cuts where needed
- Apply light pressure and work slowly
Advanced tip: For complex shapes or large markings, it can help to apply the mask in sections rather than all at once. Taking your time and working in smaller steps often leads to better results.
We highlight areas that may benefit from masking fluid in our product images.
What if I mess it up during application?
You’re not alone — it happens to everyone. Many of our sets include spare practice masks for exactly this reason.
If something goes wrong, don’t panic. Reach out to us before removing paint if possible — we’re often able to help with tips, replacements, or additional practice masks to get you back on track.
Will I pay customs or duties on my order?
Yes, customs fees and duties set by your country’s customs authority may be due on receipt. These fees vary by country and can sometimes feel disproportionate on lower-value orders.
For orders to the United States, Kit Masx products qualify under CUSMA (Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement), and no tariffs are due on U.S.-bound orders containing Kit Masx products.
1ManArmy products are manufactured in Belgium and may incur applicable U.S. tariffs or import charges. Any import charges on items headed to the United States are charged at checkout to prevent unexpected fees on delivery.
For reference, orders over $80 CAD ship free and tracked, which can help offset shipping costs. If you have questions before ordering, we’re always happy to help clarify what to expect.
✂️ Materials & Application
I’m having trouble seeing the cut lines on the mask sheet. What can I do?
Try tilting the sheet under strong side-lighting and using magnification - the light will usually catch the cut lines and make them more visible. You can also carefully remove the outer waste area around the masks to help them stand out more clearly against the backing (just take your time when doing this).
How do I use paint masks?
Paint masks are perfect for protecting the clear parts of your model—like canopies or landing lights—while spraying paint around them. They’re also great for replicating kit-provided decals (main markings) for a more realistic, painted-on finish.
Follow these steps:
1️⃣ Prepare Your Parts: Clean your model parts thoroughly with soapy water to remove any oils or residue.
2️⃣ Apply the Mask: Use needle-nose tweezers to carefully lift the mask from the sheet and position it on your model.
3️⃣ Removing the Mask: After painting, gently lift the mask using a toothpick, taking care not to scrape the painted surface.
Pro Tip: Dip your clean clear parts in acrylic floor polish (like Future) before masking. This step hides imperfections, gives clear parts a crystal-clear finish, and provides an ideal surface for mask adhesion. While this isn’t mandatory, it can enhance the final look of your model.
Which is better, Tamiya tape or Oramask 810 vinyl?
When it comes to masking for scale modeling, the choice between Tamiya tape and Oramask 810 vinyl often depends on the project at hand. Both materials offer distinct advantages, but understanding their differences can help you pick the right tool for the job.
Genuine Tamiya Tape
Tamiya tape is a thin, high-quality masking tape with a smooth, yellowish, slightly translucent surface. It’s designed specifically for scale modeling, offering secure adhesion without leaving residue. Its slight flexibility allows it to conform to gentle curves, making it perfect for detailed masking and clean, sharp paint lines. Plus, it’s easy to reposition if needed—perfect for those moments when you don’t get it quite right the first time.
Oramask 810 Vinyl
Oramask 810 is a flexible, grayish-white vinyl masking material ideal for airbrushing and stencil work. Slightly thicker than Tamiya tape, it has a rubbery texture that helps it conform to curves and irregular surfaces. While it offers excellent adhesion, it can shrink over time, so it’s best for short-term use. Oramask is great for larger areas, intricate stencil designs, or masking jobs that require flexibility over uneven surfaces.
Key Differences
- Thickness: Tamiya tape’s thin profile is ideal for precise, fine details, while Oramask’s slightly thicker vinyl is better for covering larger areas or applying markings.
- Flexibility: Oramask excels on complex curves and irregular surfaces. Tamiya tape is better for clean edges and delicate masking.
- Repositioning: Both Oramask and Tamiya tape are easy to adjust.
- Stability: Tamiya tape holds its shape over time, while vinyl can shrink, which may affect its precision if not used promptly.
So, Which is Best?
The answer depends on your needs. For fine detail work, intricate edges, or longer-term projects, Tamiya tape is ideal. It’s versatile, easy to work with, and designed with precision in mind. If you’re masking larger areas, working on curves, or applying markings, Oramask 810 is a fantastic choice.
How to Ensure Longevity for Your Masks
All of our masks are cut to order, so if you intend to use them within 6 months, vinyl is a great and more affordable option. If you're planning on storing them for a while (6 months or more), Tamiya tape is your best bet. If sealed properly, masks made from Tamiya tape can last for years.
For compound curves, we designed our masks to pair seamlessly with masking fluid regardless of whether you're using vinyl or Tamiya masks.
Why are Tamiya tape mask sets more expensive than vinyl sets?
For some larger sets—such as marking sets, master mask sets, and national insignia—you may notice a significant price difference between vinyl and Tamiya tape. This comes down to material cost and production time.
Tamiya tape sheets are pre-cut to fixed sizes, which limits how much we can fit on each sheet and often requires more material.
This also means multiple cutting passes per set, making production more time-consuming.
On top of that, genuine Tamiya tape costs more than three times as much as vinyl and can be difficult to source due to high demand.
Do you recommend masking fluid?
Yes — especially on rounded or complex surfaces. Masking fluid works with the masks to seal tricky areas and prevent paint bleed. It’s a great companion, but not a requirement for every set.
Do your mask sets include transfer tape, and how do I use it?
Yes — transfer tape is included with marking mask sets to help you position and apply multi-part markings accurately.
We use Oratape MT80P transfer tape, a low-tack, semi-transparent tape that allows you to lift complete markings, align them on the model, and apply them in one piece.
How to use transfer tape for markings:
💡 Tip: If your transfer tape is fresh and unused, reduce its stickiness by tapping it on the back of your hand or a clean piece of fabric a few times. This prevents the tape from adhering too strongly and potentially damaging the markings.
- Burnish the transfer tape gently over the marking mask
- Lift the tape with the mask attached
- Position the marking on the model and press it down
- Carefully remove the transfer tape, leaving the mask in place
❗ Note: We provide transfer tape for marking masks only.
For canopy masks, we recommend applying each mask piece individually using fine or needle-nose tweezers. This provides better control and accuracy on complex, asymmetrical clear parts.
🧩 Products & Fit
What exactly are paint masks, and how do they work?
We primarily offer canopy and marking paint masks.
Canopy masks are used to mask clear parts so you can paint the surrounding canopy frames cleanly and accurately. They’re typically the most beginner-friendly and help achieve sharp, consistent framing without the stress of cutting tiny pieces of tape by hand.
Marking masks are used to paint insignia, codes, numbers, and nose art directly onto the airframe. These offer crisp, painted-on results with no carrier film, no silvering, and complete freedom to weather, fade, or chip — but they can require more careful placement, especially on curved or complex surfaces.
Apply the mask, paint the exposed areas, then remove it to reveal sharp, realistic results that look painted on - because they are!
Are your paint masks reusable?
No, our paint masks are designed for one-time use only.
They’re made from precision masking materials intended to deliver the cleanest edges and most accurate results on the first application. Once removed, the adhesive and material properties change, which means we can’t guarantee the same level of performance if they’re reused.
To help with this, our custom and made-to-order sets always include spare practice masks, so you can test placement and technique before committing to the final application.
What does “🚩 KITS IT FITS 🚩” mean?
This section of our canopy mask product listings shows which kits a mask set is known to fit, including different manufacturers or boxings of the same subject. It helps you cross-reference compatibility and avoid guesswork.
Are your masks tested on the actual kits?
Yes! Every Kit Masx set is designed and test-fit using actual kit parts. We
always include the kit number of the kit clear parts used to make the set in the
product title and description.
We create mask sets from our own kit stash, and other modeler's stashes through our Made-to-Order service.
Custom Mask Requests
What’s the difference between a canopy mask request and a marking mask request?
Canopy mask requests are for clear parts only — cockpit canopies, windscreens, turrets, observation windows, etc.
Marking mask requests are for painted markings on the airframe — codes, serials, insignia, nose art, tail markings, and similar graphics.
They follow different workflows, so it’s important to choose the correct request type.
Can I request a custom canopy mask?
Yes! We offer a Made-to-Order (MTO) canopy mask service.
Because canopy framing is rarely symmetrical, these masks must be test-fitted on the actual model to ensure accuracy. This means shipping the clear parts to us is required. We trace, test, adjust, and verify the fit directly on your parts before cutting the final masks.
➡️ Important:
- Clear parts must be shipped to us
- This service is for canopy / clear parts only
- It is not for markings, insignia, or decals
- Availability is limited and may be fully booked at times
- Includes a few perks worth exploring 👀
Can I request custom marking masks (codes, insignia, nose art, etc.)?
Yes! Custom marking masks are handled through our Custom Mask Request process.
Most marking mask requests do not require shipping parts. They can usually be created using:
- High-quality reference photos
- Scale drawings or published references
As long as the reference material is clear and accurate, we can usually design marking masks without needing the physical kit.
Why are canopy mask requests handled differently than marking mask requests?
Canopy masks must fit complex, asymmetrical clear parts with absolute precision. Even small variations between kit manufacturers — or different releases of the same kit — can affect fit.
That’s why canopy masks must be physically test-fitted on the real parts.
Marking masks are graphic in nature and, in most cases, can be accurately designed from reference images without test-fitting.
Different requirements, different workflows — same attention to detail.
Can I request both canopy masks and marking masks for the same kit?
Yes — you can request both canopy masks and marking masks for the same kit using our Made-to-Order Mask Request Form.
When you send us your clear parts (shipping to us is at your cost), we’ll:
- Create and test-fit the canopy masks directly on your parts
- Include up to three complimentary sets of canopy masks
- Cover the return shipping of your clear parts
If you also request marking masks for the same kit and provide reference images, we’ll:
- Provide one complimentary set of custom marking masks
- Waive our $25 CAD design fee for the markings
This allows us to develop an All-in-One Master Mask Set for your kit.
Can you make custom stencil data or tiny maintenance markings?
We specialize in main markings such as codes, insignia, fin flashes, wing walks, and in some cases (depending on complexity), tail markings and nose art.
For ultra-fine stencil data (tiny servicing text, warnings, and data blocks), we recommend 1ManArmy paint mask sets, which are engineered specifically with that level of detail.
What do I need to do before submitting a custom request?
Before reaching out, we recommend:
- Check our catalog and Coming Soon list to see if your kit or markings are already available or planned
- Clarify your vision for the project and make a detailed list of the markings you’d like masks for
(for example: tail code “A”, serial number “278266”, nose art “Racy Tomato!”) - Gather high-resolution reference images. The clearer the references, the better (and faster) the results.
What if I’m not sure which type of request I need?
Totally fine — you’re not alone.
If you’re unsure whether your project needs a canopy mask or a marking mask, just send us:
- The kit and scale
- What you’re hoping to mask
We’ll help you choose the right path before you submit anything.
What should I expect for pricing on custom marking mask requests?
Custom marking mask pricing is made up of three parts:
- Design fee
A $25 CAD non-refundable design fee applies per custom request. This covers research, artwork creation, and layout time. - Mask set cost
For the most common scales — 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 — the finished mask set typically ranges from $25–$45 CAD, depending on complexity and coverage. - Shipping, duties, and fees
We’ll always confirm pricing before proceeding, so you know exactly what to expect.
🚩 A note about duties and fees
United States: Duties and fees are calculated and charged at checkout, so there are no surprises on delivery.
All other countries: Any applicable duties or postal fees are collected upon receipt of your order by your local carrier.
🎨 Made-to-Order Canopy Masks
How long will I wait for a Made-to-Order request to be completed?
Made-to-Order projects are scheduled in the order requests are received. Because this work is done alongside our regular production, timelines can vary.
When Made-to-Order (MTO) is open, current scheduling information is always listed on the Made-to-Order page. If the service is full, you’re always welcome to join the waitlist by completing our Made-to-Order Request Form.
What parts do I need to send?
You'll need to send the clear canopy parts for all build options from your kit. Main, tail, and nose wheels are also required unless the hubs are separate from the wheels.
Once your project is scheduled, we’ll provide packing and shipping instructions to make sure everything arrives safely.
Can I request markings or decals through MTO?
Made-to-Order is for canopy and clear-part masks only. Markings, insignia, and nose art fall under Custom Mask Requests, which are handled separately.
Will my Made-to-Order set be added to your catalogue?
Yes! Successful Made-to-Order designs will be added to our regular product lineup so other modelers can benefit as well.
🚚 Shipping, Duties & Pricing
What currency are your prices listed in?
All prices default to Canadian dollars.🍁
You can select your local currency at the top of our website to see prices converted before checkout, so you know exactly what you’re spending - any small differences may come from your payment provider’s exchange rates or fees.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes! We offer free shipping on orders over $80. All orders ship with tracking.
As we’ve added other vendors like 1ManArmy (with plans to add more), we streamlined our free shipping threshold to support consistent, reliable shipping across all products while covering shipping and packaging costs.
If you’re ordering beneath the free shipping threshold and find the shipping cost a bit high, consider placing a combined order with a friend!
❗ Note: even with free shipping, customs and duties may still apply on international orders, so be sure to factor those into your budget.
Will I have to pay customs or duties when I receive my order?
In the United States, no. We charge all applicable fees at checkout so there are no surprises on delivery.
For all other countries, possibly. Duties and fees may be assessed by your local customs authority upon delivery, as we’re not set up to accurately calculate or submit them. at this time.
Customs fees, duties, taxes, and postal handling charges are set by your country’s customs authority and postal service and are outside our control. These fees vary by country.
On lower-value orders, customs charges can sometimes feel disproportionate. If you’re unsure what to expect, feel free to contact us before ordering — we’re happy to help clarify.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping times vary depending on your location and the shipping method selected at checkout.
Most orders are fulfilled within 3 business days and delivery times typically range from 1–3 weeks for both Canadian and international orders.
As soon as your order ships, we’ll send you a confirmation email with tracking so you can keep an eye on it along the way.
Why does shipping cost more than the product sometimes?
Shipping costs are based on carrier pricing and can include a number of fees beyond basic postage. In addition to tariffs, carriers often apply processing fees, insurance, and fuel surcharges.
All of these charges (with the exception of duties and fees charged by your country’s Customs Authority) are paid by us to the carrier and are rolled into the shipping price you see at checkout.
On smaller orders, these combined fees can sometimes exceed the cost of the product itself. While frustrating, this reflects current carrier pricing rather than the value or weight of the item.
❗ Important to note:
For U.S. orders, any applicable tariffs are shown as a separate line item at checkout, so you can clearly see exactly what you’re paying for tariffs versus shipping. Agreeing to collect these fees (tariffs) in advance is the only way we are permitted to ship to the United States at this time.
Duties or fees charged for all other countries are not collected by us and are not included in the shipping fee. These fees will be payable by you upon receipt.
Can I save money with a group order?
Yes! Ordering as a group — such as through an IPMS club or with friends — can significantly reduce shipping costs. Group orders over $500 also qualify for additional benefits, so feel free to contact us for details.
❗️ Note: even with free shipping, customs and duties may still apply on international orders, so be sure to budget for those separately.
🔁 Help & Support
What if the mask doesn’t fit as expected?
Our masks are designed and test-fit using real kits, but small variations between manufacturers, boxings, or production runs can occur.
If you purchased the correct set for your kit using our 🚩 KITS IT FITS 🚩 list and experience a fitment issue, we’ll absolutely work with you to correct the set and send a replacement.
In the rare case that we’re unable to correct the set — for example, if we no longer have access to the required clear parts — we’ll issue a full refund for the faulty set.
If something doesn’t look right, please contact us before proceeding. A quick photo and your kit details usually help us resolve things quickly.
Are there videos or tutorials to help with mask application?
Yes! We have several step-by-step videos available on our Tutorials page that walk through mask application, tips, and common pitfalls.
If you’d like to see masks used at a professional level, Hammerhead Model Making also has a full playlist of Kit Masx masking projects, showing real-world techniques and workflows from an experienced modeler.
Both are great resources whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your technique.
What is your return policy?
Your satisfaction is super important to us. If something isn’t working for you, please contact us, ideally within 90 days of purchase, and we’ll work with you to make it right. Depending on the situation, this may include advice, a replacement set, or a refund.
👉 Know this: we're not happy unless you're happy!