1:72 A-7A/B/E Corsair II National Insignias And Stencils (Hasegawa/Fujimi/Italeri/Hobby Boss)

Dead Design 1:72 A-7A/B/E Corsair II - masks for insignia and stencils

A set of masks for the national insignia and the technical stencils of an A-7 Corsair II model in 1:72 scale, cut for the A, B and E versions. It has nothing to do with the canopy: the masks go onto the surface of a fully painted model and the insignia or stencil is sprayed through them. It is based on the dimensions of the Hasegawa, Fujimi, Italeri or Hobby Boss kits.

Insignia and stencils sprayed instead of applied as decals

The advantage is the same for both groups: sprayed markings have no carrier film. They cannot silver, they leave no glossy edge on a matte finish and they do not get in the way of later weathering. With technical stencils one more thing shows: decal stencils in a small scale are often printed denser than they can be sprayed, so the sprayed version looks more restrained on the model and matches better the way stencils look on a real aircraft from a distance.

Be ready for fine work

Here it is only fair to say that this is the most demanding kind of mask in 1:72 scale. Technical stencils are small even on a real aircraft, and after reduction they become shapes at the limit of what tweezers can pick up. Count on good light, a magnifier and a calm hand. Thin the paint more than usual and spray at low pressure and dry, otherwise it gets under the edge of the mask and the stencil bleeds. The model must be fully cured where it is to be sprayed.

Who the set is for

• Advanced modelers who can handle very small masks
• Builders of American carrier aircraft models in 1:72 scale
• Those who weather their models heavily and avoid decals
• Modelers with an airbrush and the ability to regulate pressure