1:72 F-4C/D Phantom II BASIC kabuki masks

The 1:72 F-4C/D Phantom II BASIC masking set from New Ware

This product is not a kit, but a self-adhesive masking set from kabuki tape intended for a model of the F-4C and F-4D Phantom II in 1:72 scale. The designation BASIC is the lowest of the levels that New Ware distinguishes among its sets, and it corresponds to the smallest extent of masking.

Why a ready-made mask instead of work by hand

Masking the cockpit frames by hand means applying tape, running a cut along it with a scalpel directly on the transparent part and peeling the excess away. Every such cut is a risk: the knife easily catches the plastic, on which a score stays that can no longer be polished out of the glazing. A pre-cut mask leaves this step out entirely — the pieces are only peeled off the sheet, laid on and pressed down. On the many-paned canopy of the Phantom that is a difference of tens of minutes of work and of several ruined parts.

Usage tips

First wash the transparent parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let them dry freely in the air, not by wiping. Lift the masks off the sheet with pointed tweezers by the edge, not by the face, so that they are not crumpled. Once applied, check against the light whether an air bubble has stayed anywhere. It is advisable to spray the frames with the interior color first and only then with the exterior shade — the transition then looks credible even when seen through the glass. Apply the paint as a mist and never flood the edge of the mask.

Who the set is for

• modelers building the Phantom II in the F-4C or F-4D version in 1:72 scale
• builders who do not want to cut tape with a scalpel directly on the glazing
• beginners looking for the simplest route to sharp frames
• anyone interested in saving time on a broken-up cockpit canopy

The set holds only the masks. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.