1:48 Republic F-84F Thuderstreak

Masking set for the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 1:48 scale

An accessory from Dead Design for the model of the F-84F jet fighter-bomber. The set holds self-adhesive masking parts cut to shape in advance, so nothing has to be measured out or laboriously cut from tape when spraying. The masks are laid on a finished smooth surface, sprayed over and lifted once the paint is dry. The result is sharp, even edges that hand masking achieves only with a great deal of patience. It is not an aircraft kit and these are not decals.

The real subject

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American jet fighter-bomber of the 1950s that came out of reworking the earlier straight-wing Thunderjet with a swept wing and a more powerful engine. It served with the US Air Force and with a number of European operators within NATO, so a wide range of finishes goes with it, from bare metal to later camouflage. That makes it a rewarding model on which a cleanly executed spray job shows immediately.

Masking tips

• The surface under the masks has to be dry, smooth and degreased, or the paint will run underneath.
• Lift the masks off the backing film with tweezers or the tip of a knife; fingers needlessly grease the adhesive layer.
• Press the edges down with a soft wooden stick along their whole length, especially where a mask runs over a curve.
• Spray several thin coats; one heavy coat runs underneath and leaves a thick ridge once the mask comes off.
• Lift the masks shortly after the paint has dried, and preferably at a shallow angle, so that the finish does not lift.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who spray with an airbrush and want sharp transitions without laborious cutting.
• Builders who need the same result on both sides of the model.
• Anyone who prefers a sprayed detail to a decal.

This is an accessory for a plastic model, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.