1:48 F-35B Lightning II CAMOUFLAGE kabuki masks

New Ware 1:48 F-35B Lightning II CAMOUFLAGE kabuki masks

A set of masks of kabuki tape from the Czech maker New Ware for a model of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft in 1:48 scale. At New Ware the CAMOUFLAGE designation is carried by a separate group of sets which concern the camouflage scheme, not just the glazing. The specific extent of this set is given by the manufacturer on the packaging, because it differs between individual types.

Kabuki tape is a fine self-adhesive paper tape. It adapts to curves, holds more by clinging than by the strength of its adhesive and leaves no residue on the surface once it is taken off. On a multicolor scheme a pre-cut shape is a fundamental advantage: the edge comes out exactly where it should, even in places where cutting by hand would be a lottery.

The real subject

The F-35B Lightning II is the short-takeoff variant of the fifth-generation combat aircraft with the capability of vertical landing. Behind the cockpit it has a lift fan driven by a shaft from the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine, the main nozzle swivels downwards and the machine can thus operate from short surfaces and from decks without a catapult. The surface of the aircraft is worked out with low radar reflectivity in mind and its coloring is not uniform: the gray shades differ from panel to panel, and it is precisely this difference that makes a model convincing.

How the masks are applied

• Let the base paint dry out well and only then settle the mask.
• Lift the pieces with tweezers or a toothpick and lay them down dry.
• Press the edges down with a wooden toothpick so that the paint does not run under them.
• Spray the next shade in thin coats perpendicular to the edge of the mask.
• Lift the mask off shortly after drying, while the paint is still young.

Who the set is for

For modelers who do not want to guess the boundaries of the shades freehand on an F-35B in 1:48 scale and want to repeat the scheme exactly. It will be appreciated above all by builders who work with an airbrush and want full control over the edges.