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Grumman F-14A Tomcat Flexible Masks (for Tamiya) 1:48 Galaxy Model Tamiya's new Tomcat is a masterpiece of injection moulding as of time of writing, and although it's kind of expensive, it's become the de facto F-14A of choice in 1:48 for many. The Tomcat generally wore either all-over grey, or the old hi-viz grey over white, which begs the question why you'd need masks. Good question – we're glad you asked, and looking at the instruction sheet below will give you some answers to that question. The set arrives in a thick ziplok bag with two sheets of kabuki-style masking material, one clear adhesive-backed transfer sheet, instructions and a small bag with two pieces of pre-cut iridescent "holographic" film to replicate the elusive look of the centre panel of the windscreen. This set of masks is designed for the Tamiya kit, and sets about providing the modeller with a really helpful masking set that extends way beyond simple canopy masks, although they too are included. The canopy is masked by the usual full set of masks for the canopy, with compound curved handled by using frame hugging masks, while the highly curved gaps are in-filled with either liquid mask or offcuts from the background tape. The same process is applied to the inside of the canopy, and the optical film is applied to the inside of the centre windscreen panel, adding a substantial bit of realism to the canopy. There are also masks for the anti-glare panels that apparently differed between squadrons, so take care to apply the correct ones. The top panels on the intakes have a complex ladder-style mask applied to each one, with the transfer film coming in handy here, as explained below. There are masks for the vents against the spine, at the base of the twin tails, at the rear of the airbrake, and even the underside. The wings have panels masked along their length as well as the leading edge, and the elevons have leading edge masks too. The exhausts get the full treatment, with a bucket-load of small masks that will make the finished item really pop once they have been removed. Finally there are masks for the stripy arrestor hook, the exhausts of the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, and you guessed it, the wheels! Conclusion A fine set of masks that takes some of the intricacies out of painting your new wünderkit will be a boon, especially if you're not all that fond of masking. The addition of the optical film is just gravy. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of