1:48 F-18 C Hornet - EXPERT Kabuki Masks Set (for Eduard 11195 Kit)

The real subject

The Hornet is an American carrier-borne multirole aircraft; the version with the letter C is single-seat, the version with the letter D two-seat. The machine has extensive canopy glazing and a number of areas that are sprayed in a different color from their surroundings on the model, so there is no doing without masking.

What the set offers

Elements die-cut to shape, in the version marked EXPERT. The carrier material is kabuki paper: a thin paper tape with a mild adhesive that takes being pressed into a curve and as a rule leaves no residue when lifted. The set is cut for the kit with the Eduard part number 11195 in 1:48 scale; with another release of the model the shapes may differ. What exactly the set holds is stated in the manufacturer's instructions; before spraying it is worth going through them in full, so that no element stays behind on the sheet.

Work tips

Clean and degrease the surface before you stick anything down, as a mask does not hold on a greasy surface. Move the element with tweezers and press it down all around its edge, especially where it follows a curve. Lay the paint on thinly and rather in two passes; with a heavy layer a ridge builds up at the edge of the mask. Lift the mask as soon as the paint has set, and pull it back diagonally over itself, not straight up from the surface. If a sharp edge is left somewhere anyway, level it with fine sandpaper and polish the area.

Who it is for

For modelers who want sharp color transitions and do not want to cut them from tape by hand. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.