1:48 T-45A/T-45C Goshawk ADVANCED kabuki masks

1:48 T-45A/T-45C Goshawk ADVANCED kabuki masks

This is a masking set in 1:48 scale from the New Ware brand, not a kit of an aircraft. It covers the areas that are to stay clean after spraying, so that the glazing frames and other divisions come out sharp even without patient brushwork. The name gives the designation kabuki masks and the ADVANCED level. For a number of types the brand carries three levels of extent side by side, BASIC, ADVANCED and EXPERT, and ADVANCED stands in the middle of them. The extent of the set beyond what the name says is not stated here.

The real subject

The T-45 Goshawk is a jet trainer of the US Navy, derived from the British Hawk and reworked for operating from aircraft carriers. It gained strengthened landing gear, an arrestor hook and changes to the airframe needed for hard deck landings. The older T-45A flew with analog instruments, while the later T-45C received digital displays. The Goshawk covers the final phase of pilot training before the move to combat carrier types, and its conspicuous training finish is rewarding for modelers, because it puts the emphasis on clean edges between the color fields.

Masking and painting tips

• Let the base harden perfectly before masking, otherwise the paint peels when the masks come off.
• Press the pieces down along their whole edge, especially in the corners of the frames.
• Spray at right angles to the masked edge, not at an angle under it.
• Check the result against the light before you start on the next shade.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the Goshawk in 1:48 scale.
• Those who want a wider extent than at the most limited level.
• Anyone interested in the training aircraft of the US Navy.