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

The F-35B Lightning II 1:48 with one-sided masking

This variant of the Art Scale set of the express fit line allows for the outer surface of the clear parts of the Kitty Hawk kit. It is the straightforward choice for models finished with the canopy closed, when nobody will see the inner side of the frame anyway, and it is a narrower variant in scope than the double-sided version of the same aircraft.

Why masking is not the place to cut corners

A modern machine has a smooth, uniform surface and little distracting detail, so a viewer's attention goes naturally to the cockpit. An uneven line on the frame or fogged glass then spoils the impression of the whole model, even if the rest is built carefully. A prepared mask gives a line that a strip cut by hand can hardly match on a curved surface.

Work procedure

• Wash the glass and let it dry in the air; do not finish drying it with a cloth.
• Lay the shape on by the scribed outline of the frame and fix it with a gloved finger.
• First spray a transition coat and only then the upper gray.
• Apply the coat sparingly; a thick layer makes a ridge under the mask.
• Take the mask off while the finish has just dried, not in a week's time.

Briefly about the subject

The B version is intended for short takeoff and vertical landing, it has a lift fan behind the cockpit and a swiveling engine nozzle. It is operated above all by the United States Marine Corps and also works from the decks of ships. The set therefore aims at modelers who do this machine in the ordinary 1:48 scale and want to deal with the cockpit quickly.