1:48 P-51D Mustang surface panels

Eduard 1:48 mask set for the surface panels of the P-51D Mustang

The set contains pre-cut self-adhesive masks intended for a model of the P-51D Mustang fighter in 1:48 scale. Unlike ordinary masks for glazing, this set is aimed at the surface panels and covers — the masks are stuck onto an already sprayed surface, a slightly different shade is oversprayed over them, and once they are removed a subtle differentiation of the individual skin panels remains. The effect is used where drawing the panels in by hand would look coarse. The maker is the Czech company Eduard. Check the exact number of masks and the list of areas covered on the packaging.

The real subject

The P-51D Mustang was an American single-engine fighter with a liquid-cooled piston engine and a bubble canopy. The D version differed from the earlier variants precisely in that canopy, with a good view to the rear, and in the revised upper rear fuselage. Structurally it was an all-metal aircraft with a laminar-flow wing section, thanks to which, and thanks to drop tanks, it achieved great range. The airframe was skinned in smooth sheet metal with flush rivets, so the division into panels on the real aircraft is subtle and on a model it can be suggested with exactly this kind of mask.

Building and painting tips

Apply the masks only to a fully dried base coat, ideally after one or two days. Clear the surface of dust and grease first. Choose a shade for the overspray only slightly different from the base — too much contrast looks unnatural, and the aim is a suggestion, not stripes. Spray thinned paint in several light coats at lower pressure so it cannot get under the edge of the mask. Take the mask off soon after it has dried, not days later, and pull it at a sharp angle to the surface with tweezers. The set combines well with subsequent emphasis of the engraved lines.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want a realistic suggestion of panels on a Mustang in 1:48 without laborious hand drawing.
• Airbrush users — without an airbrush the effect is practically impossible.
• Builders of display models whose surface is examined at close range.
• Modelers who already have experience of masking and oversprays.

This is a masking accessory, not a model. The kit and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.