1:48 RF-4B/C Phantom II Nat. Ins

National insignia masks RF-4B and RF-4C Phantom II 1:48

These are not masks for the cabin. The set serves for spraying the national insignia onto the airframe of a model of the reconnaissance Phantom as a replacement for decals.

The real subject

The RF-4 is the reconnaissance variant of the Phantom II with a modified forward part of the fuselage for cameras. The RF-4B served with the Marine Corps, the RF-4C with the US Air Force. Reconnaissance machines tended to have their markings done more soberly than the combat versions, and in the later period low-visibility insignia appeared on them as well, that is, an insignia in muted shades close to the color of the airframe. Markings like that are substantially easier to spray than to stick on, because the difference in sheen would give a decal away at once.

Where the insignia fit into the painting procedure

A sprayed insignia belongs only onto a finished and dried base finish, never onto fresh paint. The proven order looks like this: the base color and the camouflage, then a thin coat of gloss or semi-gloss clear, because on a smooth base a mask seals better and the paint does not run under it, then the national insignia, and finally an evening clear coat over the whole model. That one wipes out the slight difference in sheen between the insignia and its surroundings and at the same time prepares the surface for weathering. Only after it come the wash and the other effects, so that they run across the insignia too. When the order is reversed and the insignia is sprayed only after flattening, the edge of the mask usually tears the flat coat off.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building reconnaissance Phantoms in 1:48 scale
• Those who do muted and low-visibility markings
• Builders whose decals silver on a flat finish
• Models with old or damaged decals from the kit