1:48 Spitfire Mk.VIII one-sided express fit mask for Eduard

Art Scale 1:48 Spitfire Mk.VIII, a one-sided mask set

Pre-cut self-adhesive masks for the outer side of the glazing of a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII model from the Eduard kit in 1:48 scale. The package does not contain the aircraft model, it is an aid for painting. A two-sided variant with masks for the inner side as well is available separately.

A pre-cut mask versus cutting from tape by hand

Masking a canopy by hand means sticking tape onto the glazing, tracing the framing with the tip of a scalpel and peeling the surplus off. It sounds simple, except that on a model in 1:48 scale the frames are a fraction of a millimeter wide, and it takes only one slip of the blade to leave a scratch on the glazing that you will never hide again. The work also takes tens of minutes and is repeated on every further model. A pre-cut set does away with that step entirely: the parts are cut to the shape of the glazing of the Eduard kit, so they are only popped out of the sheet, laid on and pressed down. A scalpel comes near the glazing only when you want to break the layer of varnish at the edge of a mask before taking it off. Alongside the saving of time, the main benefit lies in repeatability: the second model you build looks just as good as the first.

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk.VIII is a version of the British single-seat fighter with a two-stage supercharged Merlin engine. The intricate framing of the canopy is one of the typical recognition features of this family of aircraft and at the same time one of the most laborious places of a build.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to stop cutting masks out by hand.
• Builders for whom masking from the outside is enough.
• Beginners, for whom cutting tape on glazing is the riskiest step of a build.

Neither the kit nor paints are included in the package. The number of parts and the material of the film are not stated here.