1:48 O-2A Skymaster EXPERT kabuki masks

The real subject

The O-2A Skymaster is the military version of a twin-engined civil aircraft with an unusual arrangement: the engines are on the axis of the fuselage, one at the front and the other at the rear behind the cabin, and the tail surfaces are carried by two booms at the sides. The machine served mainly for observation and for directing attack aircraft onto a target. The cabin is glazed on every side, because the crew needed to see the ground, and that is exactly what makes painting the model a lengthy job.

What the masking set solves

Masking glazing with tape by hand and cutting the shapes with a scalpel directly on the model is uncertain: the blade easily digs into the plastic and the frames do not come out the same width. This set offers shapes cut in advance from kabuki tape, that is, from a thin paper tape that holds well, follows curved areas and leaves no adhesive once removed. The form is designated in the name as EXPERT, and the range offers further degrees of extent too. What the set covers exactly is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

How to apply the masks

• wash and degrease the glazing and the surface first; a mask will not hold on a greasy base
• lift the pieces off the backing with the tip of a scalpel or with tweezers and lay them on the frame
• press the edges down with a toothpick around the whole perimeter, above all in the corners and on curves
• stick the masks on before spraying and take them off once the paint has dried
• when removing, pull the tape back over itself, not straight away from the surface

Terms of supply

A masking set is supplied. The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.