Eduard EX484 - 1:48 A-6E TRAM masks

Eduard EX484 mask set – canopy painting masks for the A-6E Intruder TRAM model (Hobby Boss) in 1:48 scale

Eduard EX484 is a set of self-adhesive 1:48 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the A-6E Intruder TRAM model from Hobby Boss. 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: EX484
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: A-6E Intruder TRAM from Hobby Boss
• 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 – Grumman A-6 Intruder / EA-6B Prowler:

The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a carrier-based attack aircraft developed for the US Navy to meet a requirement for all-weather, day-and-night strikes against ground targets. First flown in 1960, it entered service in 1963. The low-wing, swept-wing airframe was powered by two turbojets, and its two-man crew (pilot and bombardier-navigator) sat side by side. The advanced DIANE navigation and attack system allowed strikes in poor weather and at night.

The Intruder saw heavy use over Vietnam and later in the Gulf War. A family of variants followed, including the KA-6D aerial tanker. The EA-6B Prowler variant, with a stretched fuselage and four-man crew, was an electronic-warfare aircraft carrying ALQ-99 jamming pods and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. The Intruder was retired in 1997, while the Prowler served with the US Navy and USMC into the 2010s.

Original specifications (Grumman A-6 Intruder / EA-6B Prowler):

• Length: 16.69 m (A-6E); 18.24 m (EA-6B)
• Wingspan: 16.15 m
• Height: 4.93 m
• Max takeoff weight: approx. 27,400 kg
• Crew: 2 (A-6) / 4 (EA-6B)
• Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8B turbojets, approx. 41 kN each
• Max speed: approx. 1040 km/h
• Ceiling: approx. 12,900 m
• Range: approx. 1600 km (combat)
• Armament: A-6 up to approx. 8200 kg external stores (bombs, missiles); EA-6B ALQ-99 pods, AGM-88 HARM missiles
• Production: 1960-1991 (Intruder); over 690 A-6 and 170 EA-6B 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.