1:72 EA-18F Expert kabuki masks

The real subject

The F/A-18 Super Hornet family is today the backbone of the carrier aviation of the US Navy. The two-seat machines of this family have an extended cockpit canopy with distinct frames, and it is precisely the frames of the canopy that give a finished model a clean look, or on the contrary spoil it. A crisp boundary between the color of the frame and the clear area is therefore one of the places where careful building shows at first glance.

What the set contains

This is a set of masks in 1:72 scale in the Expert version. The masks are cut from kabuki paper, that is from a thin paper with a sensitive adhesive layer, which conforms well even to slightly convex surfaces and leaves no adhesive residue when removed. The extent of the masks in the set and their layout are given by the instructions enclosed by the manufacturer.

Building and painting tips

Pick the mask up with tweezers, lay it on a clean and dry surface and press the edge down carefully so that paint does not flow under it. Always stick it on before spraying, never onto dried paint. Apply the paint in several thin coats; a thick coat creates a ridge at the edge of the mask that will stay visible even after removal. Take the mask off as soon as the paint has set, carefully and at an angle, ideally with the tip of your tweezers or a toothpick.

• 1:72 scale, masks in the Expert version
• the material is kabuki paper with an adhesive layer, which follows curved surfaces well
• the masks are stuck on before spraying and removed shortly after the paint has set
• they allow a crisp transition between the color of the frame and the clear area
• the extent of the masks and their layout are given by the instructions from the manufacturer

Terms of supply

The aircraft model, paints and thinners are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise. The extent of the masks supplied is given by the description from the manufacturer.