1:48 F-14A Tomcat one-sided express fit mask for GWH

Art Scale 1:48 F-14A Tomcat express fit mask, the single-sided form

A set of masking templates from the Art Scale brand for a model of GWH's F-14A Tomcat carrier fighter in 1:48 scale. It serves for painting a model, not for building it: the templates mark out the frames of the large cockpit canopy, so after spraying the glazing is left clean and the edges of the frame sharp. The name gives the one-sided form, that is single-sided. The full extent of the set is stated on the box.

The real subject

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a carrier fighter of the US Navy with a variable-geometry wing which reset itself automatically in flight according to speed. The crew of two, sitting one behind the other, operated a powerful onboard radar, thanks to which the machine could guide long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. The F-14A version was the first production and most numerous variant and was powered by TF30 engines. Tomcats formed the backbone of carrier fighter defense from the 1970s and also became widely known thanks to a film about the training of naval pilots.

How to use the masks

• Degrease the glazing and let it dry completely.
• Lay the templates down with tweezers and press the edges in with a blunt tool.
• Mask the extensive cockpit canopy in sections so that no fold is left anywhere.
• Spray several light coats instead of one heavy one.
• Remove the templates shortly after spraying, while the paint is still fresh.

Who the set is for

Intended for modelers of modern carrier aircraft who want to deal with a large-area cockpit canopy quickly and with a sharp transition. It pays off especially on models where the glazing is to be polished and any trace of paint that has run over would be conspicuous.