1:48 PLAAF JJ-5 (Hobby Boss)

Pmask 1:48 PLAAF JJ-5, a masking set

A Pmask masking set in 1:48 scale for a model of the Chinese two-seat jet trainer JJ-5. It is not a kit but an accessory for painting: the masks are cut exactly to the shape of the glazing parts of one particular kit of this type. A long tandem canopy is especially awkward to mask by hand, so ready-made templates save more work here than anywhere else.

Use

• Before masking, wash the clear parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let them dry in the open air.
• Carry the masks with tweezers and lay them from the largest parts down to the narrowest strips of the frames.
• Press the edges down with a blunt tool, because paint that has crept under shows immediately on large glazing.
• Spray thin coats; a two-seat cockpit has many frames and paint builds up easily.
• Remove the masks shortly after the finish has dried, pulling across the edge.

The real subject

The JJ-5 was a Chinese two-seat jet trainer that came about by combining a two-seat cockpit derived from the MiG-15UTI with the fuselage and powerplant of the J-5 fighter, the Chinese version of the MiG-17. It was built from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, and besides the People's Liberation Army Air Force a number of other operators used it as well. It served for both basic and advanced jet training.

Who the set is for

For modelers of postwar jet aircraft in 1:48 scale who want a cleanly unmasked tandem cockpit. It is especially useful on schemes with a hard contrast between the frames and the surface of the aircraft.

The package contains masks only. The kit and the paints are not included.