1:72 Paint mask F-8E Crusader (HAS)

Masks for the F-8E Crusader model in 1:72

The item belongs among modeling aids and you should not look for plastic parts in it. The job of the set is to cover the glazing and selected areas at the moment of spraying, so that the resulting finish has exact edges. The model whose outlines the cut is derived from is evident from the abbreviation given at the end of the name. Similar sets can therefore be told apart from the name alone.

The last fighter with guns

The Vought F-8 earned its reputation by still relying on guns in its armament at a time when other carrier types were already betting on guided missiles alone. Technically it became famous for its variable-incidence wing, which tilted upward on landing and increased the angle of attack without the pilot losing sight of the deck. The F-8E version was given a more capable radar and pylons under the wings.

A procedure that has proved itself

Degrease the surface, seat the shapes with tweezers and press the corners down with a blunt point. In 1:72 scale choose a lower pressure and apply the paint in thin coats. Take it off before the finish has fully cured. Any sharper step can later be leveled by light polishing with very fine sandpaper. Only then comes the final varnish, which unifies the whole surface.

Intended for modelers

• who build carrier fighters of the Cold War period
• who want clean cockpit frames even in a smaller scale
• who are glad to shorten the preparatory work before spraying
• who already own the matching model and are dealing with its finish