1:48 F4F-4 Wildcat TFace

The double-sided TFace mask for the Wildcat

An Eduard masking set in the TFace rendition for the Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat model in 1:48 scale. The TFace designation means that the stencils allow for the glazing on both sides, that is from the outside and from the inside. The canopy frames therefore get camouflage on the outside and the cockpit shade on the inside, which shows at once with the canopy slid back.

The Grumman F4F-4 aboard carriers

The Dash Four was the version intended for service on aircraft carriers. It received folding wings, thanks to which considerably more machines fitted into the hangar, and six large-caliber machine guns. It was with these aircraft that American pilots held out through the first year of fighting in the Pacific, at Midway and over Guadalcanal, at a time when their opponent had a faster and more agile fighter. A stocky silhouette and a rugged structure earned it the reputation of an aircraft that can take a great deal.

How to work with both sides

Start with the inner set and spray the cockpit shade, and only then turn the part over and mask the outside. Leave enough time between coats for drying, otherwise the adhesive layer will print into the soft paint. Never hold clear parts with bare fingers, because the mark will show through the finish. When the edge of a stencil lifts, press it down with a wooden stick; metal would scratch the surface.

Especially suitable for

• builders of carrier fighters from the Pacific battles
• those who display a model with the canopy slid back
• modelers who want the interior visible through the glass
• projects with a richly equipped cockpit
• models finished for a collection of carrier aircraft