1:72 Lavochkin La-5 early

Lavochkin La-5 early 1:72 - an Eduard masking set

So that there is no doubt: there is no plastic in the package and these are not decals. It is a set of precisely die-cut self-adhesive masks of thin masking paper, which are stuck onto the glazing of the cockpit and onto the tires, so that after spraying the glazed area stays clean and the frames of the cockpit are precisely bounded. Eduard, the Czech manufacturer from Obrnice near Most, makes these sets across the whole range of scales, and in 1:72 scale they make particularly good sense: cutting a frame barely a millimeter wide out of tape by hand is work nobody likes to do twice.

How to use the masks

The procedure is simple but it rewards care. First degrease the glazing and let it dry perfectly. Lift the mask off the sheet with pointed tweezers or the tip of a knife, lay it in place and press the edge down properly; it is precisely under an edge that has not been pressed down that the paint runs under. On the rounded canopies that fighters of that time have, the mask is fitted part by part, or the area is divided up and completed with a piece of tape or masking fluid. Painting begins with the shade of the interior of the frames; only then comes the outer camouflage. Take the mask off while the paint has only just dried, not after several days, when there is a risk of tearing the clear coat away.

Who the set is for

• For modelers who want sharp cockpit frames without cutting tape by hand
• For builders of Second World War fighters in 1:72 scale
• For anyone who cannot manage to keep the edges straight in a small scale
• For modelers who paint with an airbrush and need reliable covering of the glazing

The package contains masking templates only. The model, paints and glue are not part of it.