1:48 FJ-3 Fury Advanced kabuki mask

The real subject

The FJ-3 Fury was an American carrier-borne navy fighter. It grew out of the swept-wing design of the Sabre, adapted for service on aircraft carriers: it received a tailhook, reinforcement for a catapult launch and folding outer wing panels. One pilot sits in the cockpit under a sliding canopy whose framing is one of the most laborious areas on the model when it comes to painting.

What the set contains

A sheet of pre-cut masks of kabuki paper for 1:48 scale. Kabuki paper is thin and pliable, so it can be laid even on curved glazing without creasing, it leaves no sticky film behind once removed and it does not let paint creep under as easily as ordinary masking tape. Which areas the masks cover is given in the enclosed instructions from the manufacturer.

How to use the masks

• They are stuck on before spraying, onto a dry, clean and degreased surface.
• Lift the elements with tweezers or the tip of a scalpel and press them down with a toothpick all the way around, so that no paint creeps under the edge.
• Apply the paint in several thin coats; one heavy coat builds a ridge at the edge of the mask which shows up as a step once it is removed.
• Take the mask off shortly after the last coat has dried, while the paint is not yet fully cured, so that the finish does not tear at the edge.

Who it is for

For the modeler who wants the framing of the canopy sharp and even without laboriously cutting it out of tape. It also pays off wherever the glazing on the finished model is to stay clear: the masked area stays free of glue residue and of fingerprints. The package contains the masks. The kit, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.