1:48 Mask F-4J/S Phantom II EXHAUST NOZZLES

The mask for the exhaust nozzles of the F-4J/S Phantom II in 1:48 scale from New Ware

This set handles a single, if awkward, task: masking the exhaust nozzles of the engines. It is neither a model nor decals, but an accessory for a build. The contents are a self-adhesive masking film with cut shapes that are applied to the nozzle parts or to the surrounding surfaces, depending on how you go about the painting.

Why the nozzles are masked separately

On a jet aircraft the nozzles are one of the few places where the color of the airframe meets metal shades. The transition between them has to be crisp, or the model loses its credibility. Masking by hand is especially tiresome here, because it is a circular shape with rings and segments and tape does not lay into a curve well. A ready-made cutout removes that problem.

Tips for painting the nozzles

• Lay the metal shades on a smooth, well-polished base; on a rough surface they lose their sheen.
• Metallic paints have their pigment at the bottom, so mix them really thoroughly before spraying.
• Spray the nozzles as late as you can, as metal surfaces are hard to overspray and harder to mask.
• Grade the shades; a single uniform silver area looks flat. The inside of a nozzle tends to be darker than the outer rings.
• Lift the mask off shortly after drying, as a metal coat is more brittle than an ordinary spray and breaks away easily at an edge.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are finishing a model for a display case and want the nozzles separated by a crisp edge rather than a blurred transition. It is a narrowly focused accessory that can be combined with a more general mask set for the glazing and the wheels.

The package contains masks only. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the delivery.