Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum

Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: Bigkev on March 21, 2018, 07:53:54 PM

Title: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 21, 2018, 07:53:54 PM
Hi All,
Not posted for a while, but have been keeping my hand in behind the scenes as it were.
I have just embarked upon building some models of the EE Lightning. My aim is to cover at least all of the production marks of the Lightning.
My first model is a an Lightning F.2A from Airfix. The model is built from the box, with the exception of the ejector seat which is a Barracuda Resin example. Model is finished as an aircraft of 92 Squadron, based at Gutersloh, Germany.
No build pictures this time, just the finished article, which I hope you like.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 21, 2018, 08:01:15 PM
Hi All,
Well now I'm in flow, the next one will be a Lightning F.1 by Sword Models. It will be finished in the markings of 74 Squadron.
I have made a start on this kit, and have reached about mid-way in construction. Considering this is meant to be a short run type injection kit, I have found it to be quite exquisitely moulded, together with some etch brass, resin ejection seat and exhaust nozzles.
Plastic is quite soft dark grey, but easy to work with. It does need a bit more care in assembly, and perhaps a little more careful approach as there are no locating pins, but nothing that cannot be overcome with attention.
Some pictures will follow shortly.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: bridlufc on March 21, 2018, 08:10:40 PM
One of my all time favourite aircraft, you have finished it in your inimitable style Bigkev.
I still have the one I purchased from you a few years ago, along with the after market stuff and now with time on my hands I will get round to finishing it!!

Bridlufc
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 21, 2018, 08:32:34 PM
Hi Bridlufc,
Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.
It would be nice to see that Lightning finished in 1/48th.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: kiwichappers on March 21, 2018, 09:16:16 PM
Very nice result there Kev. A fine replica of an all great and iconic British aircraft. I look forward to the line up of Lightnings when this theme is completed.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: bridlufc on March 21, 2018, 10:35:16 PM
Just out of curiosity Bigkev, what paint did you use?

Bridlufc
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 22, 2018, 05:40:59 AM
Hi Bridlufc,
I used my old favourite Alclad II.
I applied a gloss black undercoat, in this case Tamiya Gloss Black X-1, but used Mr Hobby Self Levelling Thinners rather than Tamiya's own. This gave a very high shine black finish for the Alclad metal colours afterwards.
Cheers,
Bigkev

 
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 22, 2018, 07:47:03 AM
Hi All,
Just a few pictures to show you where I am with the Lightning F.1.
Main fuselage assembled, wings and tail to add( note locationg pins to aid location), firestreak missiles.
Some filling to do around nose, and along fuselage seams.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: zak on March 22, 2018, 08:34:28 AM
You are a busy boy. Great stuff.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 22, 2018, 09:02:58 AM
Amazing co-incidence that you and Lee Hayward are both building with 'Lightning' speed? He is currently amassing a fleet in 1/100 - 1/48 with a passion. I have a couple of 1/72 Airfix (new mould) and a few Sword two-seats that call to me from the stash. Maybe I'll join this band of brothers endeavour...?
Excellent models by the way. Really impressive.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Pen-Pusher on March 22, 2018, 11:17:25 AM
Not many people know that there were a few (5) F.2's known as the F.52's, were supplied as a stop-gap measure to the RSAF. Two were painted in this scheme on retirement and used for flying displays for a couple of years and eventually became gate-guardians
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 22, 2018, 07:59:09 PM
Thanks for that Pen-Pusher,
See that the RSAF couldn't afford proper boarding ladders, must have been due to the 'Oil Crisis'
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 22, 2018, 08:16:39 PM
Hi All,
Well a little more progress today, mainly filling the fuselage seams. They were more noticeable on the underside. However to reduce the amount of filler to be applied, I apply two strips of Tamiya tape either side of the seam along the areas that I wanted to address.
You can see the extent of the Green Stuff filler applied, and see it is in a neat strip of filler rather than roughly applied.
Once dry and sanded down using fine wet and dry, and a flexifile again with soap and water to improve removal of waste filler.
Once done the surface was smooth, and most of the filler had been removed, though as expected the underside had more evident. I washed the model and once dry, I will be using a similar method of tape masking, but this time using Mr. Surfacer 500 as surface filler.
I'll post the result in my next post, but for now here is the Green stuff application and finished stage.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: zak on March 23, 2018, 07:44:04 AM
Nice job with the tape and filler.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: bridlufc on March 23, 2018, 08:00:10 AM
Not much rescribing to be done there with that technique Bigkev.

Bridlufc
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 23, 2018, 08:53:39 AM
Hi All,
Thanks for your comments. Bridlufc you are correct in that it reduces the need for rescribing, though there will be some on this model, where panel lines go across the fuselage.
I'll cover that later in the build, for now I have applied the Mr. Surfacer 500 and rubbed down, as expected the main area's were underneath, around the fuel tank.
Some pictures for your info.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 24, 2018, 06:54:51 AM
Hi All,
A little more progress on this one. After dealing with the seams on the fuselage I decided to add the ventral fin and the Fin/Rudder assembly. I had already drilled two holes to match the pins I had added to the Fin/Rudder, but noticed the inlet at the base of the fin was not really apparent, so I drilled a small hole in the centre of the inlet and then gradually enlarged it with bigger drill sizes until I got  a larger deeper hole.
I glued the parts on with a mix of tube and liquid cement.
Personally I like to apply liquid cement to the fuselage and a thin bead of tube (Revell Contacta) to the parts, these are then butt joined to the fuselage, adjusted to fit, and then a further application of liquid cement to the joins. Plasticine is used to hold the parts in place whilst the glue sets. Left overnight, and you get a strong join, any oozing can be removed with sanding. I then used Green Stuff filler along the joins and sanded, before applying a thin application of Mr. Surfacer 500 to the joins. I also applied a little more just to the front of the ventral tank where a noticed a faint seam line still existed.
Some pictures of above prior to rubbing down the Mr. Surfacer.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 24, 2018, 10:46:25 AM
Hi All,
A little more progress.
I have now re-scribed any panel lines lost during the sanding on the fuselage. Using some 'Dymo' labelling tape cut into thin strips I used these as a guide for the scriber. It was just then a job to follow the existing panel line and reinstate the obscured ones, secret here is using the scriber lightly several times rather than one heavy application.
Then the wings were attached using the same described process of liquid (Tamiya) glue and tube (Revell Contacta) I glued them in place followed by a light application of liquid glue. Some filling will be needed on the wing joints, but should be quite easy to do as they are simple straight lines. Some plasticine added to support wings whilst they dry.
Note the reinstated panel lines on underside after rescribing.
Some Pictures follow,
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: bridlufc on March 24, 2018, 11:11:53 AM
Enjoying the 'tutorial' Bigkev, and picking up a few tips along the way. Keep them coming!!

Bridlufc
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Roger on March 25, 2018, 07:38:41 PM
Looks good, love a good lightning!

Roger
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 28, 2018, 02:31:33 PM
Thanks Roger for that.

Anyway a bit more progress has been made. The wings have been filled where necessary with Green stuff and Mr. Surfacer 500.
The airframe then had the cockpit, nose wheel bay and the nose intake area packed out with damp toilet tissue to prevent paint getting into these area's.
The tail planes and their location points were drilled with a fine drill and plastic sprue attachment rods glued into the tailplane parts, and put aside to dry. Then I sprayed the airframe and tail planes in Mr. Surfacer 1500 from a spray rattle can, and allowed to dry overnight. Next day these were rubbed down with a 6000 grit micro mesh cloth, using soap and water to aid rubbing down and was left with a really smooth grey undercoat/primed surface ready for the gloss black.
Also whilst the Mr. Surfacer spray was drying, I dipped the cockpit canopies in 'Kleer', drained off the excess and mounted to dry. Result was some nice clear canopy parts, ready for masking and painting.
Some pictures of the above follow:-
Cheers,
Bigkev   
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 29, 2018, 08:23:34 PM
Hi All,
Well all 'blacked' now in readiness for the Natural Metal finish.
I used Tamiya Gloss Black X-1 with Mr. Hobby Self levelling Thinners, and sprayed at about 12 PSI. You need a spray mask and plenty of ventilation during spaying this mix.
On hindsight, I would have been better not applying the Grey Primer, as a better result on any surfaces not primed occurred, ending up being a higher gloss finish.
A little polishing will be required, but nothing onerous.
Some pictures attached after the spraying session.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on March 31, 2018, 07:49:48 PM
Hi All,
Well from Black to Silver!
Firstly I had to mask off the Yellow tip of fin, which I had missed. Once masked I gave the area a shot of Tamiya Matt White, then once dry a couple of coats of Tamiya Matt Yellow, one without Tamiya Gloss Clear added, then one with.
When dry, I masked off the rest of the fuselage spine and fin ready for Alclad II.
I then misted on an equal mix of Alclad Aluminium and Airframe Aluminium over the airframe and the two tailplanes, What you see is after three thin coats, but it will need a further light coat of Aluminium once the surfaces have been polished to remove any rough spots.
Some pictures of the above follow.
Cheers,
Bigkev 
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: zak on April 01, 2018, 07:36:51 AM
The master of the metal finish.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on April 06, 2018, 06:52:18 AM
A little more progress.
I have now masked off a few panels, the nose ring, and flaps and given them a few different shades of silver to break up the monotony of pure silver. The key is keeping it subtle but noticeable in certain angles and light.
The tailplanes and nose cone are just pushed into place, and not yet set.
Also I have undercoated all the undercarriage elements, doors, legs, jacks, in gloss black ready for various silver shades.
The Firestreak missiles have been painted first with Tamiya Flat white, then with some decanted aerosol Halfords Appliance White. Also the ejector seat has been started painting, with the seat being painted in Humbrol 150 green overall, but the various shades from Vallejo will be brush painted on, and finally some seat belts and harnesses from painted paper. The wheels are primed in grey, and I have 'flatted' the wheels where they will contact with the ground for weighted effect.
Cheers,
Bigkev     
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on May 18, 2018, 06:48:45 AM
Hi All,
Sorry not posted for a while, but have been busy with some home improvements, and gardening duties.
Anyway I am now on the final leg of this Lightning build.
I have got all the ancillary parts painted and ready to attach, and the airframe decalled. Had a bit of difficulty in getting correct location for a lot of the smaller stencil details, so like Roger, I used the Airfix instructions for a better guide. The black stripes on the fuselage tank will need to be sprayed on, as the decals are straight and do not conform to the contours of the tank.
Some pictures of airframe follow, hopefully I will get it fully finished sometime next week.
Cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: zak on May 18, 2018, 07:31:46 AM
Looks good, from the master of the silver finish.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Bigkev on May 30, 2018, 07:36:27 AM
Thanks Zak.

Well the model is now finished. Some of the decals needed a little bit of work, being too short in places, or much too large in others. In fact I have left the warning stencil off the nose wheel doors as they were about four times too big!!
A long slog with this one, but happy with result, will give it a day out at Northern Show on Sunday.
Some pictures of finished model;-
cheers,
Bigkev
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: zak on May 30, 2018, 07:43:02 AM
Looking forward to seeing it at the Northern Show.
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Roger on June 08, 2018, 08:01:45 PM
That looks spot on, I need to be trying harder!!!

Well done, looking forward to seeing it in the "flesh"
Roger
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Roger on September 01, 2018, 06:22:47 PM
BTW Big Kev,
just noticed the little vice you were using to hold the fuselage while scribing etc.  What make/source was that?
Thanks
Roger
Title: Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
Post by: Haddock on September 09, 2018, 03:36:30 PM
Try Little Cars, he seems to hold most stuff. Just spotted something that opens up to
18mm with 40mm wide jaws, you can fit plastic pins in the top to hold irregular items, look in the tweezer
section. £10+postage.
Haddock.