Airfix 1:72 Lighting F6

[matto21]

Hello all,

Been away from modelling for about 2 years. I was working on an Airfix 1:48 Hurricane but that's stalled...mind you I have moved house in the meantime.

I've always loved the Lightning, one of my earliest memories is seeing one at the RAF Valley airshow with my dad sometime in the 80's. I can still remember the ground shaking after a vertical climb.

This kit has been in my stash for about 2 years and I've bought a few extras to use with it. Progress will be slow - I've got a lot of DIY tasks at the moment so modelling time is limited!

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I'm going to use the Barracuda Cast cockpit set with this. Comparing the original with the replacement shows its no competition. Although, to be fair, the cockpit aperture is pretty tiny so it may prove to be a waste of time!

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The cockpit tub fits really well with only a minimum of effort. Dry fit only at this stage.

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However the intake could prove problematic as this photo shows, although I haven't put much effort other than this dry run yet!

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Thanks for looking

Matt

[papa 695]

Nice one Matt, some very nice additions for this, looks like one to watch.

[flyjoe180]

However the intake could prove problematic as this photo shows, although I haven't put much effort other than this dry run yet!

Check out the Lightning G B, the intake /nose issue is common and requires some 'minor' surgery. Looks good so far, that rain cockpit looks much better than the kit offering.

[matto21]

Check out the Lightning G B, the intake /nose issue is common and requires some 'minor' surgery. Looks good so far, that rain cockpit looks much better than the kit offering.

It really is better compared to the original but, as I mentioned, the opening is really tiny so it may not be worth the effort!

Already b******d up - accidentally filled the front wheel bay with lead shot so looks like I'll have to rebuild it using plastic card.

Matt

[matto21]

Slow but steady progress. I've sanded the sides of the intake and removed the large ejector pins from the fuselage sides and it's improved the fit significantly.

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Matt

[colin m]

Despite the fuselage problem at the front, this kit does turn out quite nice. That cockpit will be a great improvement.

[matto21]

Managed to get the cockpit tub painted, washed and drybrushed today.

During all my numerous dryfitting the fuselage sides closed up fairly well. Now I've glued the intake and cockpit in, the fit is terrible!

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Matt

[papa 695]

Coming along Matt

[matto21]

The completed instrument panel installed into the fuselage and my attempts to get things closed up!

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[flyjoe180]

Enjoy Cockpit is looking good

[matto21]

Starting to look like a Lightning but it's been a slog getting this far. Nearly every piece fitted poorly. I've had to do a lot of gap filling and I'm done yet!

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Matt

[papa 695]

It's coming along very nicely though Matt, nearly there now.

[matto21]

Bit more progress. I seem to have used all sorts of fillers to get things to the point where I can do some priming, from super glue, Mr Surfacer and Tamiya putty. Lots of gaps to fill!

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Surely this is one of the most boring jobs?

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Priming done. I'm going for a stage between preshading panel lines and the popular black basing.

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Matt

[flyjoe180]

Looking good Matt...

Surely this is one of the most boring jobs?

I actually enjoy masking canopies. This one wasn't too bad.

Black basing etc looks good, can't tell the issues were there from the photos. Looking forward to seeing the paint go down.

[matto21]

Looking good Matt...


I actually enjoy masking canopies. This one wasn't too bad.

Black basing etc looks good, can't tell the issues were there from the photos. Looking forward to seeing the paint go down.

Masking the canopy isn't too bad - it's masking the cockpit aperture I hate!

I've tried both panel line shading and black basing previously, and both have positives and negatives. I'm going for a halfway house in the hope it might give a bit more contrast with less effort!

Matt