1:48 SR-71 Blackbird Pre-cut painting masks

SR-71 Blackbird, pre-cut painting masks in 1:48 scale (Reskit)

The set contains pre-cut painting masks for an SR-71 model in 1:48 scale. The masks are peeled off the backing sheet, transferred onto the model with tweezers and pressed down, so there is no tracing and cutting of tape by hand. Which particular surfaces the set covers is shown in the instructions enclosed. This is neither a kit nor a part of a model, but an aid for painting.

The real subject

The SR-71 is a two-seat jet reconnaissance aircraft with a pair of engines in nacelles set into the wing and with fuselage chines running all the way to the nose. The design was built for very high speeds and flight levels, which is also why the whole airframe carried a heat-resistant dark finish. It is exactly that overall dark finish which makes clean masking of the glazing and other surfaces a key step in the build, because every overrun shows immediately on a smooth dark area.

Usage tips

Degrease the surfaces before masking and let them dry completely. Lay the masks down with tweezers and press them with a stick or a toothpick, above all around the perimeter, so that paint does not creep under the edge. Spray the paint in several thin coats and at right angles to the edge of the mask, not at an acute angle. Remove the mask shortly after the paint has set, not once it has fully hardened, and pull it back over itself at a small angle. Any adhesive residue that might cling can be carefully wiped off with alcohol on a cotton swab, away from decals.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the SR-71 in 1:48 scale
• Those who want crisp transitions without laborious cutting of tape
• Builders who dislike paint creeping onto the glazing
• Anyone after quicker preparation of a model for painting

This is an aid for painting, not a kit. Neither paints nor the model are included in the package.