Author Topic: English Electric Lightning 1/72  (Read 8660 times)

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #15 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
I hope my next is always better

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #16 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
I hope my next is always better

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #17 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
I hope my next is always better

bridlufc

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #18 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

Roger

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #19 on: March 25, 2018, 07:38:41 PM »
Looks good, love a good lightning!

Roger

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #20 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   
I hope my next is always better

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #21 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
I hope my next is always better

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #22 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 
I hope my next is always better

zak

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #23 on: April 01, 2018, 07:36:51 AM »
The master of the metal finish.
Grumpy by name and nature

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #24 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     
I hope my next is always better

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #25 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
I hope my next is always better

zak

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #26 on: May 18, 2018, 07:31:46 AM »
Looks good, from the master of the silver finish.
Grumpy by name and nature

Bigkev

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #27 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
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zak

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #28 on: May 30, 2018, 07:43:02 AM »
Looking forward to seeing it at the Northern Show.
Grumpy by name and nature

Roger

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Re: English Electric Lightning 1/72
« Reply #29 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