1:32 PZL P.11c

1:32 PZL P.11c, an Eduard masking set

This item belongs to Eduard's masking range, that is among the die-cut self-adhesive templates that are stuck onto glazed and otherwise unpainted areas before spraying and lifted once the paint has dried. It is not a photo-etched set, even though Eduard's photo-etched set for the same subject carries the same name. The difference is simple: a photo-etched set adds thin metal parts to a model and stays part of it, whereas a mask is a working aid that leaves nothing behind but a sharp edge of paint.

What a large scale means for masking

In 1:32 every area is larger and a mistake is correspondingly more visible. The frames, on the other hand, are so wide that any unevenness in them cannot be hidden under weathering. The P.11c is a high-wing monoplane with a gull wing of the so-called Polish type and with an open pilot's cockpit covered only by a windscreen, so there are not many glazed areas to mask, but they are clearly visible. That is precisely why on this type it pays to get the edge right the first time.

Usage tips

Degrease the glazing and the surrounding areas before masking, as in a large scale a fingerprint shows through the finish particularly clearly. Seat the template dry with tweezers, check the position and only then press the edges down. Spray in thin coats and lift the masks only once the paint has dried, drawing them off sideways at an angle. On open cockpits it pays to plan the order of the work so that the interior is finished and touched in before the exterior finish comes up.

Who the set is for

• builders of interwar fighter aircraft in a large scale
• modelers who want the colors of the frame and the glass cleanly separated
• those looking for a masking aid, not metal accessories
• airbrush users working on large models

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.