Eduard EX566 - 1:48 Avia B-534 III.serie masks

Eduard EX566 mask set – canopy painting masks for the Avia B-534 III.serie model (Eduard) in 1:48 scale

Eduard EX566 is a set of self-adhesive 1:48 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the Avia B-534 III.serie model from Eduard. 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: EX566
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: Avia B-534 III.serie from Eduard
• 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 – Avia B-534:

The Avia B-534 was a Czechoslovak single-seat fighter biplane developed in the 1930s, first flown in 1933. It belonged to the last generation of biplane fighters: a metal structure with partly fabric-covered surfaces, an enclosed cockpit canopy in later batches and a liquid-cooled inline engine. Structurally it represented the peak of biplane-fighter doctrine, at the threshold of the move to monoplanes.

The B-534 was the standard fighter of the Czechoslovak air force in the second half of the 1930s. After the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1939 the aircraft were taken over by Slovak and German forces, with some passing to other states. Due to its by-then obsolete biplane layout, in World War II conditions it mostly performed secondary and training duties. Successive production batches differed in canopy and armament, supplemented by the Bk-534 naval version with a cannon.

Original specifications (Avia B-534):

• Length: 8.2 m
• Wingspan: 9.4 m
• Height: 3.1 m
• Max takeoff weight: approx. 2120 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: 1 x Avia Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs inline, approx. 850 hp
• Max speed: approx. 405 km/h
• Ceiling: approx. 10,600 m
• Range: approx. 580 km
• Armament: 4 x 7.92 mm MGs; optionally up to 6 x 20 kg bombs (some batches); Bk-534 with 20 mm cannon
• Production: 1934-1939, approx. 560 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.