Self-adhesive masks for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb: covers for the cockpit glazing, three masks of national insignia and decals.
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The sliding section of a Spitfire's cockpit is not made up of flat panes. It is a blown part whose surface curves in two directions at once, and so a flat cut of a mask cannot be laid on it without consequences. A paper carrier proves better than film in this case, because its fibers allow a slight stretch and the material lies over the curve without creases. It is exactly the sliding section that is the most demanding part on this aircraft, whereas the fixed windscreen and the rear window are easy by comparison.
The Vb version carried two cannons and four machine guns, a larger oil cooler was added under the nose and many machines received a sand filter in the intake for service in the Mediterranean. The shape of the wingtips tends to be a distinguishing feature, because some of the machines flew with clipped tips for better agility at low altitude.
On a doubly curved surface it proves best to spray thinner coats and let them go off, because a heavy coat creates a ridge at the edge of the mask which stays palpable once it is removed.
Some of the machines of this version flew with the rounded wingtips removed and replaced by straight ends. The aircraft lost something of its speed at altitude but its roll rate increased and it maneuvered better low over the ground, where most of the offensive sorties took place. A wing like that gives a model a markedly different silhouette and it is worth considering already when choosing a kit. It has no direct bearing on masking the cockpit, but it will affect the choice of markings, because clipped tips were carried mainly by the machines of certain units.
A model of the aircraft is not part of the item.
Naši poradci a znalci sortimentu jsou připraveni odpovídat na Vaše dotazy (Po–Pá, 8–18 hod).
Zeptejte se na co potřebujete, odpovíme co nejdříve.
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