1:48 F/ A-18C

Eduard 1:48 F/A-18C masks

A set of self-adhesive die-cut masks from Eduard in 1:48 scale, intended for precise spraying of the framing of the canopy glazing and of the other clear areas of the American F/A-18C carrier-based multirole aircraft. It is neither a kit nor an aircraft model but an accessory to a kit already in hand. The masks are stuck onto the clear parts and onto the wheel rims, the areas are oversprayed with paint, and once the masks come off the frames are left crisply bounded, with no brushwork to go over them.

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an American carrier-based multirole aircraft able to fly fighter and attack missions alike. The single-seat C version brought modernized avionics and expanded armament and became the backbone of the US Navy's carrier squadrons. The large one-piece canopy glazing has a prominent frame at the front.

Use

• The masks follow the shape of the glazing of a specific kit in 1:48 scale: check before buying that the set matches your own kit.
• Stick them onto a perfectly dry, smooth and degreased surface and press the mask down all the way around so that paint cannot creep under it.
• Spray with an airbrush in thin coats, rather more passes than fewer: a heavy coat leaves a step at the edge of the mask.
• Spray the interior cockpit color first, then the final exterior shade; take the mask off with tweezers, pulling at an angle, before the paint has fully cured.
• Besides the glazing frames, such sets usually also contain masks for the wheel rims and tires, for a clean separation of the colors.

Who it is for

For modelers who want their cockpit frames sprayed crisply and straight, with no ragged edges and no paint running over from a brush. It saves a great deal of time and frustration, above all on segmented glazing. Some basic experience with an airbrush is useful.

An accessory for masking while spraying, not a model. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.