1:48 Republic P-43A Lancer

Glazing masks for the Republic P-43A Lancer 1:48 (Eduard)

A set of die-cut self-adhesive masks for building a model of the Republic P-43A Lancer fighter in 1:48 scale from the Czech maker Eduard. It is not a kit nor an instrument panel, but an aid for painting the glazing. The masks are die-cut from kabuki paper to the shape of the glazing of a particular kit and need not fit a model from another maker. The extent of the set, that is, whether it covers only the cockpit or the wheels and other areas as well, is given on the packaging.

The real subject

The P-43 Lancer was an American single-engine fighter with a radial engine and a turbocharger, which came about as an intermediate step in the line of development between the prewar fighters of the same marque and a considerably larger later type. It was built in small numbers at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s, but it did not really prove itself in the fighter role and was used mainly for training and reconnaissance. Some of the machines were delivered abroad. For a modeler it is an interesting type precisely because it stands outside the mainstream of well known fighters.

Usage tips

First wash and degrease the glazing. Lift the masks with tweezers, place them dry and then press them down along the whole perimeter, so that the paint does not bleed under the edge. Spray the interior shade first and only then the base color of the airframe. Kabuki paper will take several layers; what matters is applying them thinly and letting them set in between. Take the masks off shortly after the paint has dried, while the adhesive is holding only lightly. Should any adhesive residue appear after all, remove it with an alcohol cleaner, not with thinner, which would bite into the transparent part.

Who the set is for

• modelers building American fighters in 1:48 scale
• those interested in less usual types outside the mainstream
• builders who want sharp frames with no brush painting
• a competition build, where the cleanness of transitions is judged

The set is an aid for painting. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.