1:48 FM-2 one-sided express fit mask for Eduard

Art Scale 1:48 FM-2 express fit mask, the single-sided form

A set of templates for masking Eduard's kit of the FM-2 carrier fighter in 1:48 scale from the Art Scale brand. It is not a model and not an accessory to be glued permanently to a model, but a working aid: the templates bound the frames of the glazed cockpit so that the spraying ends exactly where it should. The one-sided designation in the name gives the single-sided form, which the brand offers alongside the double-sided variant. What is in the set is listed on the box.

The real subject

The FM-2 was the development peak of the Wildcat and in the US Navy it was nicknamed the Wilder Wildcat. The Eastern Aircraft division gave it a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine and a lightened airframe, which noticeably improved the rate of climb and takeoff from a short deck. Its recognition feature is a taller vertical tail, which balanced out the increased torque. The type served until the end of the war chiefly from escort carriers in the Pacific and over the Atlantic.

How to use the masks

• Degrease the glazing and let it dry, and wipe the dust off with a clean cloth.
• Lay the individual shapes down with tweezers and press the edges down with a blunt tool.
• Cover in several light coats, not in one heavy spraying.
• Before the final color it pays to spray the frame in the interior shade.
• Remove the templates while the finish is still fresh.

Who the set is for

It is intended for modelers who want a clean transition between the glazing and the frame on a small fighter without having to cut the shapes by hand. It speeds the work up especially when the same model is built in several examples or in different finishes.