1:72 McDonnell F-4E/F-4F/F-4G/F-4EJ Phantom wheel bay paint masks

QMT 1:72 Phantom F-4E, F-4F, F-4G and F-4EJ masking set, wheel bays

The package holds self-adhesive masks cut to the outline of the wheel bays of a model in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit. According to the name the set is intended for the F-4E, F-4F, F-4G and F-4EJ versions, that is, for the later land-based Phantom variants with the same bay arrangement.

Spraying over a mask: thin coats instead of one heavy one

What is decided around the mask is how the edge will look once it is off. A heavy coat of paint laid on all at once creates a pronounced step at the edge of the mask that stays there to be felt even after a clear coat and, in a small scale, looks like an inappropriately thick outline. Several thin coats with a short flash-off between them give the same coverage, and against that the edge is almost imperceptible. A slightly lowered pressure and a perpendicular angle of the nozzle help as well.

The real subject

The F-4E brought an internal cannon and further changes to the forward fuselage into the Phantom family, the F-4F was the version for the Luftwaffe, the F-4G served in the specialized role of suppressing air defenses and the F-4EJ was the variant operated in Japan. They were twin-engine two-seat machines with a cranked wing and anhedral tail surfaces.

Usage tips

Spray the interior of the bay first, let it dry thoroughly, and only then apply the mask and press the edge down around the whole perimeter. Once it is off, check the transition from the side against the light. Check the shades of the interior in the instructions to your own kit.

Who the set is for

• builders of the late land-based Phantom versions in 1:72 scale
• modelers who spray with an airbrush in thin coats
• those who want an edge with no visible step of paint
• builders looking for a finished die-cut instead of masking by hand

This is an accessory to a kit. The model itself, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.