Eduard EX658 - 1:48 Yak-1b masks

Eduard EX658 mask set – canopy painting masks for the Yak-1b model (Zvezda) in 1:48 scale

Eduard EX658 is a set of self-adhesive 1:48 masks for painting the canopy framing and other glazing, and the wheel hubs, tailored to the Yak-1b 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: EX658
• Manufacturer: Eduard
• Dedicated kit: Yak-1b 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 – Yakovlev Yak-1:

The Yakovlev Yak-1 was a Soviet single-seat fighter of the early Second World War and the first of a large family of Yakovlev fighters. First flown in 1940, it was a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction: a metal frame with a wooden wing and partly fabric covering. It was powered by a Klimov M-105 inline engine with a cannon firing through the propeller hub.

The aircraft was light, manoeuvrable and relatively simple to produce and operate from front-line airfields. It formed the backbone of Soviet fighter aviation in the early phase of the fighting on the Eastern Front. Later versions, including the Yak-1B with improved visibility and reinforced armament, led to the development of the Yak-7 and Yak-9 successors. It was built in thousands.

Original specifications (Yakovlev Yak-1):

• Length: 8.48 m
• Wingspan: 10.00 m
• Height: 2.64 m
• Max. take-off weight: approx. 2950 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: 1 Klimov M-105PF inline engine, approx. 880 kW (1180 hp)
• Max. speed: approx. 590 km/h
• Ceiling: approx. 10,000 m
• Range: approx. 700 km
• Armament: 1x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, 1-2x 7.62 mm machine guns (Yak-1B: 12.7 mm)
• Production: approx. 8700 built (1940-1944)

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.