1:48 Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV

Eduard mask set 1:48 — Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV

The set holds machine pre-cut self-adhesive masks in kabuki material for the model of the Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV in 1:48 scale. It is not a kit but an aid that cuts the masking of the canopy glazing from an hour of cutting tape down to a few minutes. The masks are cut to fit a particular kit, so check before buying that they match yours. Eduard is a Czech manufacturer from Obrnice near Most.

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk.XIV was the version with the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, a longer nose and a five-blade propeller; compared with the older Merlin machines, the outlines of the fuselage and the vertical tail changed markedly. The letters FR in the designation stand for the reconnaissance conversion of the fighter, that is a machine fitted with photographic equipment for oblique photography. A number of these machines also had a cut-down rear fuselage with a bubble canopy, which offered a better view aft.

How they are used and work tips

Lift the parts off the sheet with tweezers and stick them down exactly along the outline of the frames. The material follows the curve of the canopy. The open areas in the middle of the panes are covered with the remainder of the sheet or with liquid mask. Press the edges down with a toothpick so that paint does not creep underneath, and spray in thin coats. Take the masks off shortly after the paint has dried; after a longer time they come away less easily. If the model gets a bubble canopy, pay attention to how the mask sits on its shape.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the Spitfire FR Mk.XIV in 1:48 scale
• Builders who want crisp frame edges without cutting tape
• Those who regard masking as the least enjoyable part of a build
• Anyone interested in British fighter and reconnaissance airplanes

The set holds only the masks. Paints, glue and the model are not included in the package.