1:48 SE.5a otline wing masks (for Eduard)

The real subject

The SE.5a is a British fighter biplane from the end of the First World War. Against more agile opponents it relied on a sturdy structure, speed and steadiness in flight, which made it a good gun platform even for a pilot who did not fly every day. The airframe is built around a wooden frame covered with fabric, the wings have square tips and a web of struts and wires runs between them. It is the fabric covering that makes painting this machine a job where every imprecise edge shows.

What the set solves

The set contains masks for the wings of the model in 1:48 scale, cut for the parts of the Eduard kit. The mask defines a sharp boundary between the area that is to stay untouched and the area that is to be painted, so brushing along the line and fixing paint that has crept under it are no longer needed. The exact placement of the individual parts of the set is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The masks are applied before spraying, not after the paint has dried. The surface must be clean and free of grease, otherwise the mask will not sit down. Press the edges along their whole length with a blunt tip and lay the paint down in several thin coats; one heavy coat will be drawn under the edge and the line will be blurred. Remove the mask as soon as the paint is dry to the touch, pulling it back at an angle over itself. On fabric covering with raised ribs, run your finger along the mask at each rib separately, otherwise the paint will creep under the edge exactly there.

Who it is for

For builders of First World War aircraft in 1:48 scale who build the SE.5a from the Eduard kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.