1:72 Il-28 Beagle

Eduard 1:72 Il-28 Beagle masking set

An Eduard masking set for the Il-28 Beagle in 1:72 scale. This is a modeling accessory, not a model; the kit of the aircraft is bought separately. The manufacturer states that the set is worked out for the Trumpeter kit. The shapes are die-cut from kabuki tape, a fine Japanese masking tape: the templates follow the glazing frames exactly, so the edge of the spray comes about without any cutting by hand, and once the paint has dried the tape peels off without pulling the coat away.

The real subject

The Il-28 was a Soviet twin-engine jet bomber of the early 1950s and one of the most widespread machines in its class: it served in a good many armed forces around the world. The designation Beagle was not its name at the manufacturer but the reporting name assigned to it by NATO.

Use

• The templates are lifted off the backing paper with tweezers and transferred to the clear part; they follow the framing, so the crisp edge of the spray needs no cutting by hand.
• On the Il-28 that shows in two entirely different places: the many-faceted glazed navigator's nose and, on top of that, the glazing of the rear defensive gunner's turret. Two different groups of clear parts on one aircraft mean markedly more masking than on an ordinary fighter, and that is exactly where this set saves work.
• The procedure: degrease the clear part, stick the masks on, spray the color of the frames and then the camouflage.
• Take the masks off slowly and only once the paint has dried through.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are building the Il-28 in 1:72 scale and want the glazing frames crisp and straight without hours spent with a knife and tape. Collectors of Cold War hardware will appreciate it, and so will anyone who does not fancy masking the many-faceted nose by hand.

It is not a model. The bomber kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package. Compare the set with your own kit before buying.