1:48 P-38J Lightning

Eduard 1:48 Lockheed P-38J Lightning — mask set

Self-adhesive masking templates for a model of the American twin-boom Lockheed P-38J Lightning fighter in 1:48. The templates are cut to the shape of the glazing panels and come with masks for the wheels. The manufacturer also makes a photo-etched set for the same aircraft under the same name — this item is the mask set, that is an aid for painting, not metal parts for the model.

The real subject

The P-38J Lightning was an American twin-engined fighter of unconventional design: the pilot's cockpit sat in a central nacelle between two booms that carried the engines and ran back into the tail surfaces. The J version is recognized by the redesigned radiators in the leading edge of the wing, which dealt with the cooling troubles of the earlier series and with engine response at great altitude. The cockpit has flat glazing panels and plenty of framing, which makes masking especially rewarding on this type.

Use and tips

Wash the glazing first and let it dry thoroughly. Lift the templates off the backing sheet with tweezers and seat them dry, pressing the edges down with a blunt stick. Spray thin coats and let them set, so that paint does not run under the edge. On cockpits with pronounced framing it pays to lay the first coat in the interior shade and only then the top camouflage — the frame then reads convincingly from both sides. Take the masks off soon after the paint has dried. Stick the circular wheel templates onto the tire, spray the hub and leave the border alone afterward.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the P-38J in 1:48 with an eye on sharp cockpit framing
• Those who do not want to spend an evening cutting tape with a scalpel
• Builders who want to separate the wheel hubs cleanly from the tires
• Modelers of American Second World War aircraft

This is an add-on to a model, not a kit in its own right. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.