1:48 Me 110G-4 one-sided express fit mask for Eduard

Single-sided painting mask for the Bf 110 G-4 in 1:48 scale

A self-adhesive mask cut to shape in advance, which is applied straight onto the clear part. The single-sided form is designed for masking the outer face of the glazing. On the Bf 110 that means a great saving of time, because the glazing is long, runs over the whole upper part of the fuselage and the frames are exceptionally numerous. Going round all the edges by hand with tape takes hours, and one inaccuracy is enough for the result to look careless. The cut of the masks is based on the Eduard kit.

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4, also listed in sources and in the literature as the Me 110, was the night fighter version of the twin-engine heavy fighter. It was powered by Daimler-Benz engines of the DB 605 series and machines of this version carried airborne radar with characteristic antennas on the nose. The crew sat one behind the other under long glazing. It is precisely the antenna system and the divided glazing that make the model a fairly demanding piece to finish.

Masking and painting tips

Wash the clear part in lukewarm water with detergent, dry it in the air and do not touch it with your fingers. Lift the masks with a scalpel and go over the edges with a toothpick. On German night fighters the upper surfaces tend to be sprayed in fine mottling over a light base, which is work that will not bear a heavy coat of paint, so thin more than usual and spray at lower pressure. Take the mask off the glazing while the varnish is freshly dry. Paint the antenna rods only after the masks have been removed; they break off easily.

Who the mask is for

• For modelers building the Bf 110 G-4 in 1:48 scale
• For those who do not want to cut dozens of frames out of tape
• For builders for whom masking from the outside is enough
• For collectors of German aviation of the Second World War