Eduard EX488 - 1:48 Pe-2 masks

Eduard EX488 mask set – canopy painting masks for the Pe-2 model (Zvezda) in 1:48 scale

Eduard EX488 is a set of self-adhesive 1:48 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the Pe-2 model from Zvezda. 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: EX488
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: Pe-2 from Zvezda
• 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 – Petlyakov Pe-2:

The Pe-2 is a twin-engine dive bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed by Vladimir Petlyakov's team, originally as the VI-100 high-altitude interceptor and then redesigned into a dive bomber. The prototype first flew in 1939-1940 and the aircraft entered service in 1941. It was one of the most important and numerous Soviet bombers of World War II, fast, agile and hard to intercept.

The Pe-2 served on all fronts of the German-Soviet war as a dive bomber, reconnaissance aircraft and, in the Pe-3 version, a heavy fighter. Production ran from 1940 to 1945 and totalled about 11,400 aircraft. It was developed further into the Pe-2I. The aircraft was also used after the war by Eastern Bloc states.

Original specifications (Petlyakov Pe-2):

• Length: approx. 12.66 m
• Wingspan: approx. 17.16 m
• Height: approx. 3.42 m
• Empty weight: approx. 5,870 kg
• Takeoff weight: approx. 7,700-8,500 kg
• Crew: 3 (pilot, navigator-bombardier, radio operator/gunner)
• Powerplant: 2 x Klimov M-105 (VK-105PF) inline engines, approx. 1,100-1,210 hp each
• Max speed: approx. 540 km/h
• Ceiling: approx. 8,800 m
• Range: approx. 1,200-1,500 km
• Armament: ShKAS/UB machine guns (nose and defensive); bomb load approx. 600 kg (up to 1,000 kg overload)
• Production: 1940-1945 (approx. 11,400 aircraft)

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.