1:72 F-106B Delta Dart Canopy Mask Trumpeter

Masking stencils for the cockpit canopy of the F-106B in 1:72

Cut-out shapes intended for covering the glazing of the two-seat Delta Dart during spraying. They follow the division of the frames along the whole tandem canopy, so the boundary of the paint comes out straight even on a long curve. They are worked with on an already assembled cockpit.

How the two-seat version differed

The F-106B came about as a training variant with two seats one behind the other, but unlike ordinary school machines it kept its full combat capability and its onboard fire-control system. A markedly longer glazing divided into several pieces therefore covers the cockpit, and it tends to be the most demanding place on the whole airframe when building a model. The machines served with the training units of the air defense and flew together with the single-seat interceptors. The two-seat forms were kept in the inventory even after a number of other types were retired.

What to watch out for when applying

• Rinse the glazing first and let it dry off; grease holds a shape only for a moment.
• Start with the smallest frames and add the large areas at the end.
• Press the edges in with a blunt wooden stick along the whole length of the curve.
• Before the outer shade, consider spraying the frame with the interior color.
• After spraying, check the corners; that is where bleed appears first.

When to reach for ready-made shapes

A long tandem canopy is among the cases where cutting tape by hand turns out lengthy and inaccurate. Ready-made shapes save time and nerves, and the result is repeatable when you build several machines of the same type side by side.