1:48 F-15 Eagle Camouflage Paint Masks Set

The gray finish of the Eagle under a mask

The F-15 came about as the answer to a requirement for a fighter that would make no compromises for the sake of attacking ground targets. It first flew in 1972, received an enormous wing with low wing loading and a pair of engines whose thrust came close to the weight of the aircraft, so it could climb even in the vertical. Its appearance is set by a pair of close gray tones: the darker one covers the spine and the outer parts of the surfaces, the lighter one the underside and the sides of the fuselage, and the boundary between them runs along a smooth but distinct line.

What the set solves

That boundary is exactly where a model tends to come to grief. Running from the nose across the air intakes as far as the tail surfaces, it must not jump anywhere and must not diverge between the left and the right side. The pre-cut parts hold it exactly where it belongs, even in places where it crosses a curved surface.

Procedure

First the lighter shade is applied over the whole model, then once it has dried the areas that are to stay light are covered and the darker tone is sprayed over them. If the transition is to be softer, the mask can be lifted with a thin strip and the paint blown gently underneath. After uncovering, the edges are checked against the light.

Choosing the kit

The set is laid out for 1:48 scale; the same subject is offered by the brand in a larger and in a smaller version as well, and the size of the sheet follows the scale.

Before you get to work

It is recommended to assemble the model including the air intakes and the tail surfaces before the paint comes. Gluing later over a finished finish means sanding right where the boundary between the shades runs, and the repair is then visible from every angle.