1:32 F-5F Tiger II one-sided express fit mask for Kitty Hawk

The F-5F Tiger II in 1:32 and one-sided masking of the glazing

This masking set of the express fit line from the Art Scale brand is prepared for the shapes of the clear parts of the two-seat Tiger II from the Kitty Hawk kit. The one-sided version works with the outer surface of the glazing, that is with the side you see once the cockpit is closed and over which the upper camouflage goes.

What makes the F-5F cockpit demanding

The two-seat version has tandem seating and because of that markedly longer glazing than its single-seat sibling. There are more frames, they are close together and some of them are curved in two directions. It is exactly here that masking by hand with strips falls apart: every part has to be cut differently, and one strip stuck on crooked is enough for the whole line to lose its straightness.

Advice on painting

• Divide the work up by parts and put the finished pieces down on a soft surface.
• Take the spray from the frame toward the middle of the surface, not the other way round.
• Choose the base color in the shade of the cockpit; the transition is then not visible.
• Leave enough time between coats; wet paint draws in under the mask.
• Once it is uncovered, check the continuity of the lines in sharp side light.

The subject and the use

The F-5F Tiger II is the two-seat variant of the light supersonic F-5E fighter with a lengthened nose. It served as a trainer as well as a full combat aircraft and was used by a number of countries, so you can choose from a varied range of camouflage schemes. The set is therefore for modelers who want a closed cockpit and clean frames without cutting shapes by hand.