1:72 Grumman A-6E Intruder

An Eduard mask set for the A-6E Intruder in 1:72

An item from the mask range of the Czech maker Eduard. The brand names its mask sets by the aircraft name alone and releases other kinds of accessories under the same name; here these are masks for 1:72 scale, that is an aid for painting, not photo-etched parts. You will value the masks above all on the rounded canopy of the Intruder, under which the two-man crew sits side by side and whose frames are extremely awkward to outline freehand.

The real subject

The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a carrier attack aircraft able to strike in any weather and at night. The A-6E version was the peak of its development: it received an improved radar and, from the late 1970s, the underfuselage TRAM turret with thermal imaging and a laser designator. Intruders proved themselves from Vietnam to Operation Desert Storm and flew from carrier decks until the mid-1990s.

How to get the most from the masks

Before laying the shapes on, polish the clear parts and degrease the mating surfaces with alcohol. Mask calmly and one shape at a time, pressing the edges down with the tip of a toothpick. When spraying, hold the gun perpendicular so the paint does not creep under, and apply the coats thin; once they have flashed off, pull the masks away at a sharp angle.

The set suits

• builders of the Intruder and admirers of US Navy carrier aviation
• modelers tired of outlining cockpit frames by hand
• collectors of Cold War machines in 1:72
• anyone who insists on crisp transitions between paint and glass