1:48 Westland Sea King HAS.1/HAS.5/HU.5 EXPERT kabuki masks

New Ware 1:48 Westland Sea King HAS.1/HAS.5/HU.5 EXPERT kabuki masks

A masking set from the Czech maker New Ware for a model of the Westland Sea King helicopter in the HAS.1, HAS.5 and HU.5 versions in 1:48 scale, released at the EXPERT level. The masks are cut from kabuki tape, that is a fine self-adhesive paper tape that follows a curve and leaves no adhesive residue on the surface when lifted off. The Sea King has an extensively glazed nose and a number of side windows, so pre-cut pieces save a great deal of time and a good many spoiled attempts.

Levels of coverage: New Ware releases masks for the same machine in several levels marked BASIC, ADVANCED and EXPERT. The coverage differs from type to type; which surfaces the EXPERT level covers on this helicopter is stated by the manufacturer on the packaging of the set.

The real subject

The Westland Sea King came about as the British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61, reworked for British turboshaft engines and British avionics. The HAS.1 was the anti-submarine version of the Royal Navy with a dipping sonar and a radar of its own, the HAS.5 its update with more capable equipment and the HU.5 the transport and rescue variant. The machines served exceptionally long and in Britain became familiar above all as search and rescue helicopters in a striking color scheme, which is a rewarding subject for a modeler.

How the masks are applied

• Degrease the glazing and clear it of dust.
• Lift the pieces with tweezers or a toothpick and seat them dry.
• Press the edges down with a wooden toothpick, so that no paint runs under them.
• Spray thinly and in several coats.
• Lift the masks off shortly after the paint is dry.

Who the set is for

For modelers who want to go further with masking a 1:48 Sea King than the cockpit alone and who care about clean edges. Suitable also for models being prepared for a competition, where the precision of the transitions is judged.