1:48 Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II

A masking set for the F-35B Lightning II in 1:48 scale

This item is not an airplane kit but a masking set for a model of the Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II in 1:48 scale. It is made by Eduard, a Czech manufacturer from Obrnice near Most, whose masks are among the most widespread accessories of their kind. The shapes in the set correspond to the frames of the glazing, so the most tedious part of the preparation falls away when painting. This is the variant for masking the outer side; for the same type Eduard also lists a set designated TFace, which additionally handles the inner side of the canopy.

The real subject

The F-35B is the variant of the fifth generation fighter aircraft with a short takeoff and vertical landing. What sets it apart from the other versions is the lift fan behind the cockpit and the swiveling nozzle at the end of the fuselage; a single engine drives both, so the machine can operate from the decks of smaller carriers and from improvised surfaces. It carries weapons in internal bays, which along with the shaping of the surface and the coatings reduces its radar signature. A strong point of the aircraft is the linking of sensors and the sharing of a picture of the situation between machines. The B version is operated by the United States Marine Corps, the Royal Navy and other European and Asian users.

How the masking set is used

The masks are placed on the glazing before the paint is sprayed, on a clean and degreased surface. Press the edges down carefully, so that paint does not run under them, and take them off best soon after drying, while the coat is still flexible. Pointed tweezers and a toothpick will do most of the work.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want sharp and even cockpit frames without masking by hand.
• Builders of modern combat aircraft in 1:48 scale.
• Everyone for whom masking the glazing takes the most time.