1:48 L-39 Albatros airbrush mask for injected canopy

Cut for the molded clear part

The qualifier in the name says which type of glazing the set belongs to. An injection-molded canopy is formed in a metal mold, has a noticeable thickness and its frames stand out as a sharp edge. A part drawn from thin film, by contrast, follows a different outline and tends to be rather more delicate. That is exactly why the templates for the two forms differ, and why mixing them up leaves the film either overhanging or falling short of the frame.

The two-seat Albatros cockpit

This trainer from Vodochody has its seats in tandem and the instructor at the rear sits higher, so as to see over the student's head. The glazing therefore runs far back and is divided into several frames with a fixed arch between them. Cutting masks to such a shape by hand means an hour of work and the risk that the right side of the model turns out differently from the left.

Fitting and spraying

Degrease the clear part, transfer the film with tweezers and press it down along the whole edge with a fingernail. Lay the paint on in stages: first the interior shade of the cockpit, and once it has dried, the covering coat of the exterior. Take the templates off while the last coat has only flashed off; the edge then stays smooth. What is supplied is only the sheet of masks.

Why it pays off

The cockpit frames are the first thing a viewer notices on an aircraft model. A shaky line gives away haste even on an otherwise nicely built model, while a sharp transition makes an impression even on a simple build. The time saved on cutting can go into what is seen through the glass: the instrument panel, the seat harness or the handles on the sides.