1:72 McDonnell RF-4EJ Phantom ADVANCED kabuki masks

New Ware 1:72 McDonnell RF-4EJ Phantom ADVANCED kabuki masks

A masking set from the Czech maker New Ware for a model of the reconnaissance Phantom RF-4EJ in 1:72 scale. The masks are cut from kabuki tape, a fine self-adhesive paper tape that follows the curve of a canopy and leaves no adhesive residue on clear parts when lifted off. In 1:72 scale the glazing frames are so narrow that a pre-cut piece is practically the only route to a genuinely sharp edge.

Levels of coverage: New Ware releases masks for one type in several levels marked BASIC, ADVANCED and EXPERT. The coverage differs from type to type; which surfaces the set covers on this aircraft is stated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

The real subject

The Phantom II was a two-seat twin-engine combat aircraft with General Electric J79 engines that became one of the most widespread Western machines of the Cold War. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force used the F-4EJ fighter version, and some of its machines were later converted into reconnaissance RF-4EJs. Unlike the RF-4E with its lengthened camera nose, the RF-4EJ kept the nose of the fighter version and carried its reconnaissance equipment in external pods. The Japanese Phantoms were among the last in service anywhere in the world, and their late schemes are a rewarding subject among modelers.

How the masks are applied

• Degrease the glazing and clear it of dust; the masks then hold far better.
• Lift the small pieces with pointed tweezers and seat them dry.
• Press the edges down with a wooden toothpick, so that no paint runs under them.
• Spray in thin coats; a heavy coat builds a ridge at the edge.
• Lift the masks off shortly after the paint is dry.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the RF-4EJ in 1:72 scale and want the glazing cleanly separated from the frames. It pays off especially for anyone who has once tried cutting masks for a Phantom canopy by hand.