Eduard CX299 - 1:72 Valiant BK.Mk.I masks

Eduard CX299 mask set – canopy painting masks for the Valiant BK.Mk.I model (Airfix) in 1:72 scale

Eduard CX299 is a set of self-adhesive 1:72 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the Valiant BK.Mk.I model from Airfix. The masks are die-cut from yellow Kabuki masking paper, giving sharp edges without hand masking with tape. The base kit is not included.

What's in the box:

• Sheet of self-adhesive masks made of yellow Kabuki masking paper, die-cut for the canopy and other glazing and for the wheel hubs
• Mask placement instructions

Set specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: CX299
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: Valiant BK.Mk.I from Airfix
• Accessory type: canopy painting masks
• Material: yellow Kabuki masking paper, machine-cut

Self-adhesive painting masks – crisp canopy frame edges

Eduard masks are self-adhesive stencils die-cut from low-tack yellow Kabuki masking paper suited to delicate model surfaces. They cover the clear areas of the glazing and leave only the canopy framing exposed, so that after airbrushing you get sharp, even frame edges – hard to achieve when masking by hand with tape.

The recommended method is to apply the masks to clean, degreased glazing, press the edges down firmly and then airbrush the paint. Once the paint has dried, the masks are removed. The masks are intended for single use and should not be left on the model for a long time.

About the aircraft – Vickers Valiant:

The Vickers Valiant was a British four-engine jet strategic bomber, the first of the three so-called V-bombers alongside the Avro Vulcan and Handley Page Victor. It was powered by Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets buried in the wing roots. Its role was to carry the British nuclear deterrent, though it could also deliver conventional weapons.

As the first V-bomber to enter service, the Valiant dropped Britain's atomic and thermonuclear test weapons. It also took part in the 1956 Suez operation carrying conventional bombs. After switching to low-level flying, fatigue cracks appeared in the wing structure, leading to the premature withdrawal of the entire fleet in 1965.

Original specifications (Vickers Valiant):

• Length: 32.99 m
• Wingspan: 34.85 m
• Height: 9.80 m
• Max takeoff weight: approx. 63,500 kg
• Crew: 5
• Powerplant: 4 x Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet, approx. 44.7 kN each
• Max speed: 912 km/h (Mach 0.84)
• Ceiling: 16,500 m
• Range: approx. 7,245 km
• Armament: nuclear bomb or up to 9,500 kg of conventional bombs
• Production: 107 built (1951-1957)

About the manufacturer – Eduard:

Eduard is a Czech manufacturer of scale model kits and modelling accessories, established in 1989 and based in Obrnice. The company is widely recognised among aircraft modellers for its own 1:48 and 1:72 kits and for an extensive range of upgrade accessories: photo-etched parts, Brassin resin components, decals and painting masks. Eduard masks are die-cut from yellow Kabuki masking paper and designed for specific plastic kits, ensuring an accurate fit to the shape of the canopy and other details. The EX mask series covers hundreds of items dedicated both to Eduard kits and to kits from other manufacturers.