1:48 F-35B Lightning II double-sided express fit mask for Kitty Hawk

Double-sided masks for the F-35B Lightning II in 1:48

This masking set from the Art Scale brand, of the express fit line, is prepared for the outer as well as the inner side of the clear parts of an F-35B model. You will use the inner shapes when you want to color the frame of an opened canopy for the view into the cockpit, while the outer ones serve under the upper shade of the airframe. The target kit is Kitty Hawk.

The cockpit of a modern machine

The F-35 has a one-piece canopy without a transverse frame and therefore considerably fewer dividing lines than older machines. All the more visible is each of those that remain, above all the transition to the front arch. If a line gets smeared, the model gives it away even from a meter away, because the surface of the aircraft is otherwise smooth and free of distracting detail.

What to watch out for

• Keep the clear part out of the build as long as possible, so that it does not get scratched.
• Choose the inner color according to the interior, not according to the upper finish.
• Let the part rest at least a while between masking and spraying.
• Keep the coat light; the F-35 has nowhere to hide a thickened edge.
• Finally check whether any dust has been left under the mask.

What the F-35B is and who the set is for

The letter B designates the version for short takeoff and vertical landing, which even a layman recognizes by the door of the lift fan behind the cockpit. It is used by the United States Marine Corps and by other operators, and on a model it tends to be finished in a uniform gray. The set will be appreciated by modelers who build the cockpit open and do not want the frame to stay translucent.