1:48 F-4B Phantom II - Wheels and Canopy Frame Paint Mask Outside Only (for Academy 12232 Kit)

The Phantom in Navy colors

The Phantom II began as a carrier-based interceptor without gun armament, meant to protect a task force with long-range guided missiles. The F-4B form was the first truly mass-produced one and in the middle of the 1960s it made up the core of the carrier squadrons. It carried a powerful radar, a crew of two and eight pylons for the most varied combinations of armament. Over Vietnam it turned out that relying on missiles alone was not enough, and the experience of those years led to the founding of the famous school of air combat.

Machines of that day wore a light gray upper surface and a white underside, and with it the colorful squadron markings on the fin. Such a scheme gives away every unclean edge, because both colors are very light and hide nothing beneath them.

What covering from outside only means

The stencils in this package deal with the visible side of the glazing. The inner surface stays free, so the frames have to be painted in the cockpit shade by hand, otherwise they will show through the glass in the color of the airframe. Experienced builders cover the inside with liquid mask applied with a brush.

Wheels and preparing the parts

The circular parts separate the hub from the tire and save work with a ruler and a knife. The cut matches the kit from Academy in this size. It pays to wash the clear moldings in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent before masking and to let them dry freely, because fingerprints and dust are mercilessly visible under a sprayed coat. Let the drying happen in a closed box where no fluff can get in.