1:48 F-22A

Eduard masking set, F-22A, 1:48

A distinction right at the start: under the same subject designation there are also photo-etched and pre-painted detail sets. This item is not one of them. These are masks, that is pre-cut self-adhesive shapes which are stuck onto the areas that are to stay free of paint and peeled off after spraying. No metal or resin part gets glued into the model.

Why masking pays off on this type

The F-22A is a twin-engine fighter with a large one-piece cockpit canopy, on which the boundary between glazing and structure runs in a long smooth curve. It is precisely such a shape that is hardest to mask with tape by hand, because a straight strip of tape does not follow the curve and has to be cut in place. A die-cut mask holds the shape by itself and the edge of the paint stays crisp along its whole length.

Use and tips

• Degrease the clear part before sticking the masks on, as fingerprints hold a mask for only a short while.
• Lay the masks with tweezers and press them home with a soft stick, not with a fingernail.
• Spray thin coats; a heavy coat builds a step on the edge of the mask.
• Take the masks off as soon as possible after the paint has dried, as old adhesive comes away less easily.
• Remove any adhesive residue after taking them off with a dry cloth, not with a solvent.

Who the set is for

For a modeler who builds the F-22A in 1:48 and does not want to risk cutting the clear part while trimming tape by hand.

The masks are supplied unapplied. The model, the paints and the filler primer are not included in the package.