1:48 F-104A/C/G Starfighter EXPERT kabuki masks

The real subject

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is an American single-seat supersonic fighter of the 1950s, unmistakable for its short straight wing with a sharp leading edge and for the horizontal tail set on top of the fin. The letters in the name refer to three versions: the early American A and C and the later G, which reached European users and became the most widespread variant of the type.

What kabuki masks are

The masks are cut from thin Japanese paper with a lightly adhesive layer. The paper can be stretched into a curve, so it follows curved glazing better than ordinary tape, it does not pull the paint off when removed and it leaves no adhesive behind. The pieces are cut to shape in advance, so there is no cutting out around a template and no trimming of tape directly on the model. Which areas the set covers and which kit it is cut for is stated by the manufacturer in the instructions.

How to use the masks

The masks are applied before spraying, onto a clean and degreased surface. Lift a piece out with the tip of a knife, settle it into the glazing frame and press the edges down with a toothpick so that paint cannot creep under them. Apply the paint in several thin coats and spray straight at the surface rather than at an angle under the edge of a mask. Remove them as soon as the paint has set; on a fully cured coat they lift less cleanly. Pull the mask back over itself as you do so, not straight up.

• 1:72 scale
• cut masks of kabuki paper
• for the F-104A, F-104C and F-104G versions
• applied before spraying and removed once the paint has set

Terms of supply

The package contains masks. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.