1:48 TA-4J Skyhawk canopy mask (inside and outside) Hasegawa/Hobby 2000

The tandem canopy of the training Skyhawk in 1:48 scale

Shaped painting stencils for the clear parts of the two-seat TA-4J. They fit the framing of the canopy from outside and from inside, so that the inner side of the frames can get the cockpit shade and the outer side the shade of the airframe, without paint reaching the areas that are meant to stay clear. The target model is given in the name of the item.

The training Skyhawk of the US Navy

The TA-4J came about by inserting a second seat into the fuselage of the light A-4 carrier attack aircraft. The instructor sits at the rear and higher, and both places are covered by lengthened glazing with a fixed windscreen and a long sliding section. The aircraft served for decades as an advanced jet trainer and, without radar and combat systems, stayed light and nimble. Conspicuous is the fuselage spine behind the rear cockpit, into which the glazing runs in a curve, and the slender nose with no radome.

What to watch out for when painting

• The glazing is divided into the windscreen and the sliding section; deal with each piece separately.
• The frames tend to be a different color inside than outside, which is why the two sides are kept apart.
• The slanting braces above the rear cockpit are narrow and are outlined badly by hand.
• The join of the glazing to the spine of the fuselage is curved and a straight strip will not manage it.
• Paint the clear parts only once the base has matured, so that the edges do not peel.

Who the set is for

For modelers who want sharp frames with no bleed and do not want to lose time cutting narrow strips by hand. It saves the most work where the glazing is broken up and the surfaces are not flat. It will also be appreciated by builders who leave the cockpit open, as the inside of the frames is then clearly visible.