1:72 E-2C Hawkeye

A masking set for the Hawkeye in 1:72

Here Eduard offers self-adhesive masks for the glazing of a model of the American carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft in 1:72 scale. The model itself is not part of it; you are buying an aid that shortens the most tedious part of painting.

What the masking solves

The cockpit of the Hawkeye has many small windows and straight frames, which are miserable to outline with tape. Pre-cut masks of thin masking paper follow the frame exactly, hold even on a curved surface and leave no adhesive behind when they are removed. Besides the glazing, sets like these often add discs for the wheels, so that the tire stays dark and the hub clean.

How to apply the masks

Wash and degrease the clear parts first. Lift the shape with the tip of a scalpel, lay it in the middle of the panel and press it down from the center out to the edges with a wooden toothpick, so that no air pocket is left. Spray in thin layers; a heavy coat runs under the edge. Remove them while the paint is still fresh; on a fully cured finish the edge tears away with the paint. Blow any paper fibers away with compressed air. Anyone masking for the first time should start with the largest window; the hand gets used to the handling quickly.

Who the set makes work easier for

• Builders of US Navy carrier aircraft
• Modelers who find outlining frames with tape by hand tedious
• Those who want a sharp transition between frame and glass
• Beginners, for whom masking is the hardest step

The model, paints and glue are not sold with this set.