Shaun's English Electric Lightning F.6 * COMPLETED*

[59North]

A excellent model, Shaun. It's really quite colourful with those markings on a NMF. Very nice.

[ShaunW]

Thank you kindly, 59.

I've had a few chores come my way this week so I haven't got a great deal further with the build. I have, however, managed to finish the decals in full including as many of the stencils as I could stomach! I have also toned down the overall shine using Humbrol Matt Cote with a little Gloss Cote added to give a slightly satin sheen. I don't like NMF to be too shiny but that's just my preference, of course - if you want to do your NMF glossy enough to use as a shaving mirror then be my guest






I am now engaged with the detail painting - u/c, canopy frames and suchlike. Casting round my paints for a suitable exhaust colour I came across some Mr Hobby Stainless and decided that gave just the right shade of toasted metal without being too dark:



Hopefully the next step will be removal of the temporary sprue stilts and on with the landing gear.

[dollar19]

Thats looking fabulous Shaun! when i built Trumpy's version last years I struggled terribly with those decals at the ass end and belly. they were just awful. I'm glad to see the Airfix one behave better.

[ShaunW]

Many thanks, Dollar. The Airfix decals here did give me a little trouble. I found the decals, although nicely in register and with good colour density, to be a little reluctant adhere to the surface of the plastic or to conform with the curves of the fuselage and what have you. I've experienced this problem before with the Airfix new tool Spitfire Mk.22 in 1/72nd although it has to be said that the Lightning's decals behaved better than those did. Previously I've found that some of Airfix's new tool decals don't particularly care for Microscale red bottle solution which, for many years, has been my preferred solution to really pull decals nice and tight over the surface of a model. Usually when used, the red bottle stuff causes a decal to wrinkle quite alarmingly but the decal will subsequently right itself and dry nice and smooth. Not so the Airfix new tool decals in my experience. I've had creases stay put in both the Spit's decals and those of an earlier Lancaster build. I didn't chance it here and the larger decals have not been treated with any solutions.

[dollar19]

Those are some good point to remember. I’ve been using Solvaset and Champs for years. But I always dilute them with water and very slowly work my way up in strength as needed.

[Clashcityrocker]

Good looking Lightning Shaun.

Nigel

[Ratch]

Looking good Shaun

[Stuart]

That's a great looking lightning Shaun!

[Kitaholic]

Looking the business, really nicely done.

[shangos70]

Looking very nice Shaun. Well done.

[ShaunW]

Thanks a lot for your kind comments fellas. I've been fannying around with removing the u/c from the sprues and touching up the paint, adding straps to the seat and yet more detail painting this afternoon. Hopefully I'll have her on her wheels tomorrow.

[JohnRatzenberger]

That is very sharp, and I like the sprue stilts !

[ShaunW]

That is very sharp, and I like the sprue stilts !

Many thanks, John. I've been using sprue stilts like that since the 90's but I can't remember where the idea came from. I may have come up with it myself but there is a strong possibility that I lifted it from a magazine article or from a fellow IPMS member as I used to attend a branch (which I believe is referred to as a chapter by IPMS USA) meeting regularly back then.

[MarkyM607]

That is very sharp, and I like the sprue stilts !

Many thanks, John. I've been using sprue stilts like that since the 90's but I can't remember where the idea came from. I may have come up with it myself but there is a strong possibility that I lifted it from a magazine article or from a fellow IPMS member as I used to attend a branch (which I believe is referred to as a chapter by IPMS USA) meeting regularly back then.

Do you glue them on or blu-tac them or what?. Keep resting my models on their belly or Lego. Could be an idea worth taking up.

[Corricon]

Late to the party on this one Shaun, but very nicely done, some of the shades you've used for various parts on the Lightning look spot on from how I remembered them when I used to service them!