1:72 Fokker D-XXIII

Peewit 1:72 masking set — Fokker D.XXIII

This item is NOT a model of an aircraft but a modeling accessory. It is a set of precisely die-cut self-adhesive masks in 1:72 scale for a model of the Dutch Fokker D.XXIII fighter. The templates follow the framing of the cabin glazing and usually also the tires of the landing gear wheels. Peewit is a Czech brand that has long specialized in masking templates for aircraft models.

The real subject

The Fokker D.XXIII was an unusual experimental fighter that first flew in the spring of 1939. The designers reached for an arrangement of two engines in tandem — one driving a tractor propeller ahead of the cabin, the other a pusher propeller behind it — and supplemented the wing with a pair of tail booms carrying the horizontal tail surface. The aim was to combine the advantages of a twin-engined aircraft with the clear view and concentrated armament of a single-engined fighter. The aircraft remained at the prototype stage; the trials were plagued above all by the cooling of the rear engine and development was cut short by the events of the war in 1940. Despite its short life the D.XXIII is among the most interesting dead ends of the prewar European design school, and among modelers it is a popular subject precisely for its unmistakable shape.

Use

• lift the piece of mask out of the sheet with tweezers or the tip of a scalpel
• stick it on a dry and degreased clear part and press the edges down thoroughly
• spray several thin coats rather than one heavy one
• lift the mask off while the paint is freshly dried
• remove any glue residue after lifting with a damp cloth, never with an aggressive solvent

Who the set is for

For modelers who devote themselves to prewar Dutch aviation, to experimental designs and to prototypes, and for everyone who wants to save time masking a cabin. In a small scale the final impression is decided precisely by the sharpness of the frames, and a precisely die-cut template delivers it more reliably than working by hand with a knife.

The set holds masking templates only. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package. The masks are cut to fit a particular kit, and on a model of another origin the shape of the frames may differ.