1:72 F-15C painting mask on

The real subject

The F-15C is a single-seat fighter meant for winning air superiority, powered by a pair of turbofan engines. The large canopy and the clean surfaces of the airframe mean a lot of masking when building a model, even in the small 1:72 scale.

What the mask solves

The templates are cut out beforehand, so there is no cutting of strips and trimming of curves out of adhesive tape. The boundary of the paint comes out sharp and the same on both sides of the model, which is hard to manage with hand-cut masking.

How the mask is used

Lift the template off the backing with tweezers and lay it on a clean, degreased and dry surface. Press the edges down properly so that the paint does not seep under them; this step decides the result more than the spraying itself. Apply the paint in thin coats in two or three passes, because a thick coat will build a ridge at the edge. Remove the mask as soon as the paint has set, not after a long time, so that the finish does not peel off with it.

• masking templates for a model in 1:72 scale
• the subject is the F-15C fighter
• the templates are cut out beforehand, there is no need to cut them
• they are stuck down before spraying and lifted off once the paint has set
• they help toward a sharp and symmetrical boundary of the paint

Who it is for

For a modeler who paints with an airbrush and wants cleanly bounded areas without laborious hand masking. The masks are cut for a particular kit, so check before buying that they match yours. The model, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.