1:72 Lockheed Martin F-35 C Lightning II - BASIC Kabuki Masks (for Tamiya Kits)

What the masks are for

Masking the glazing is one of the jobs where cutting the tape by hand decides the result of the whole model. A crooked cut shows at once after spraying and can hardly be put right. Pre-cut masks do away with that work: you lift the part out of the sheet, lay it on the glass and the frame comes out sharply bounded even where it runs into a curve.

The version and what it fits

The masks are of kabuki tape, that is of a fine paper strip with a slightly tacky layer. It conforms well to rounded glazing, holds for the duration of the spraying and can be taken off after the work is done without damaging the paint. The set is intended for the F-35C Lightning II model in 1:72 scale and for Tamiya kits, in the basic version marked BASIC; the extent of the masked areas is given by the manufacturer in the enclosed instructions.

Usage tips

Wash and degrease the glazing first, otherwise the mask will not seat. Stick it on before spraying, press the edges down with a toothpick and apply the paint in several thin layers; a heavy layer will run under the edge and leave a step when the mask comes off. Take the mask off with tweezers at a sharp angle shortly after the paint has dried, not after several days, when the tacky layer separates less easily. Wipe any glue residue away with a cotton swab moistened in alcohol.

• Pre-cut masks of kabuki tape
• 1:72 scale, the F-35C Lightning II model
• Intended for Tamiya kits
• The basic version marked BASIC
• They are stuck on before spraying and taken off once the paint has dried

Who they are for

For modelers who want sharp glazing frames without the lengthy cutting of tape, and for anyone who struggles with thin transitions on a curved cabin in a small scale. The model, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.