1:48 Messerschmitt F-2/F-4 BASIC kabuki masks

The real subject

The Bf 109 F, established among modelers under the nickname Friedrich, was a stage in the development of the German fighter aircraft Messerschmitt Bf 109 of the beginning of the Second World War. Against the older versions it received an aerodynamically cleaner nose, rounded wingtips and a tail without external struts. The F-2 and F-4 versions resemble each other outwardly and differ mainly in the engine-mounted cannon; the power plant remained the Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12.

What the set contains

The set contains masking templates of kabuki tape, as the name itself states. Kabuki tape adapts well to the curve of the canopy and leaves a clean edge once it is taken off. The designation BASIC distinguishes the basic extent from the richer variants of the same range; the exact list of templates is given in the instructions enclosed by the manufacturer.

Building and painting tips

Stick the templates onto a finished, dry and degreased surface before spraying. Press the edges down carefully with a toothpick or the tip of a pair of tweezers, so that paint does not run under them. Apply the paint in several thin coats at right angles to the edge of the mask, not in one heavy coat. Take the mask off shortly after the paint has dried, while the coat is still flexible, and do so slowly and at an angle to the surface.

• 1:48 scale, the subject Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2/F-4
• masking templates of kabuki tape according to the name of the set
• the basic extent of the range, marked BASIC
• stuck on before spraying, taken off once the paint has dried
• the extent of the templates is given in the manufacturer's instructions

Who it is for

The set suits anyone who does not want to mask the cockpit frames and other sharp transitions with tape cut by hand. It is an accessory for the build, not a kit of the aircraft; paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.