Eduard 1/72 RAF Fighter Camouflage Masks
By Jim Bates
Model manufacturers have always been on the lookout for ways to assist the scale modeler when it comes to applying RAF camouflage. This task is more tedious than difficult, and modelers with limited time (or those of us who are just lazy) would love a relief from some of the monotony. Fujimi includes decals for the Dark Green pattern in their Griffon Spitfire kits. A few manufacturers, including Eduard back in the day, have issued vinyl masks for the paint schemes. But vinyl doesn't always want to stick, and it isn't unusual to get paint bleed.
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So Eduard has revisited the concept with their yellow kabuki tape masks. These masks are made from rice paper tape, which is a far superior masking material to vinyl.
I was provided three sheets for review,s A and B schemes for Hawker Hurricanes (item numbers CX422 and CX426 respectively), and the B scheme camo for early Spitfires (CX425). When Hurricane Mk. I and early Spitfires were built, each airframe off the production line alternated in either the A or B pattern of the Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth. This practice was discontinued in early 1941.
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Each set consists of two sheets of tape masks and an instruction sheet. The model is painted Sky, then the underside is masked off with the supplied sections and the top is painted Dark Earth. Once dry, the masks for the wings and fuselage are applied to cover the Dark Earth and the Dark Green is airbrushed over the model. It sure looks easy and should simplify masking
Thanks to Eduard for the review samples.