1:48 Mask Tornado F.3 ADV,IDS,GR.4 BASIC (REV)

Masking Set 1:48 Panavia Tornado F.3 (ADV), IDS and GR.4, BASIC Level (New Ware)

This item is not a kit but an accessory for painting a model. It contains cut masking templates that are stuck onto the glazing and other areas that are to stay free of paint. At New Ware the BASIC level means the basic extent, that is the templates most often needed to finish a model; the ADVANCED and EXPERT levels are wider. The practical advantage of this set is that it covers several versions of the Tornado at once.

The real subject

The Panavia Tornado is a two-seat combat aircraft with a variable-sweep wing, developed jointly by Great Britain, Germany and Italy. The IDS version was conceived for attacks on ground targets in all weather and low over the terrain, and the British GR.4 upgrade followed on from it with improved avionics and armament. The ADV interceptor version, taken into service with the Royal Air Force as the F.3, has a lengthened fuselage and was intended for long-range patrols and interception, not for attacks on the ground. The differences between the versions show in the shape of the parts as well, so always go by the particular version you are building.

How to use the masks

First wash the glazing in lukewarm water with detergent and dry it, as a mask holds badly on a greasy surface. Take the individual parts out of the sheet with pointed tweezers or a scalpel so that you do not damage the neighboring shapes. Once they are stuck on, run a toothpick or a blunt stick around the edges, which makes the mask cling and stops paint creeping under it. Spray at right angles to the surface and in thin coats, as spraying at an angle blows paint under the edge of the mask.

Who the set is for

• builders of the Tornado who want straight canopy frames of even width
• modelers building several versions of one type
• those who do not want to spend hours cutting tape against a ruler
• beginners, for whom the basic BASIC extent is more than enough

The templates are cut to the shape of a particular kit; check before buying that it matches your model. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package.