1:72 I.A.R. IAR.81C

IAR.81C in 1:72 scale, masking set

An accessory for painting the model, not the model itself. Pre-cut masks take the place of cutting tape for the glazing by hand and shorten the preparation for spraying to a few minutes. This set is one of the accessories Eduard has released for this Romanian type in 1:72.

The real subject

The IAR.81C was the peak of development of the Romanian IAR.80 fighter series, built by the Industria Aeronautica Romana company. The machine had a radial engine, a cantilever low wing and, in the late version, heavier armament with cannons in the wing. It was committed on the Eastern Front and from 1944 mainly against the American formations heading for the oil fields near Ploiesti. The Romanian Air Force flew it even after the country changed to the Allied side. One curiosity of the type is the unusually shaped fuselage with a long rear end, which makes the aircraft easy to recognize. The Romanian machines also wore striking national insignia, on which a crisp boundary between shades shows particularly well.

Painting recommendations

• Polish the glazing before sticking the masks on, so that they hold well.
• Late Romanian finishes have hard-edged fields, so spray thin coats.
• After taking the masks off, check the edges against the light and correct any overrun.
• Protect the cockpit during the final varnishing too, not only during the covering coat.

Who the item will serve

Collectors of aircraft from the less usual air powers and everyone who, in a small scale, prefers clean work on the cockpit to hours with a knife and tape.