Eduard EX349 - 1:48 P-61 masks

Eduard EX349 mask set – canopy painting masks for the P-61 model (Great Wall Hobby) in 1:48 scale

Eduard EX349 is a set of self-adhesive 1:48 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the P-61 model from Great Wall Hobby. 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: 1:48
• Catalogue number: EX349
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: P-61 from Great Wall Hobby
• 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 – Northrop P-61 Black Widow:

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was an American twin-engine night fighter, first flown in 1942, the first American aircraft designed from the outset to carry an interception radar. It had a twin-boom layout with a central crew nacelle and was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines. A large radar was housed in the nose of the nacelle, and the crew usually consisted of two or three members.

The P-61 entered service in 1944 and was used for night interceptions in the Pacific and Europe. Its radar equipment allowed it to detect and attack targets in darkness and poor weather. Its armament included cannon in the lower fuselage and, on some examples, a remotely operated dorsal turret. A relatively small number of examples was built in several variants.

Original specifications (Northrop P-61 Black Widow):

• Length: 15.11 m
• Wingspan: 20.12 m
• Height: 4.47 m
• Takeoff weight: approx. 13,500 kg
• Crew: 2-3
• Powerplant: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, approx. 2,000 hp each
• Max speed: approx. 590 km/h
• Ceiling: approx. 10,000 m
• Range: approx. 1,900 km
• Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon in the lower fuselage, on some examples 4 x 12.7 mm guns in a dorsal turret
• Production: 1943-1945, approx. 700 built

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.