English Electric Lighting F.6

Maciej Bellos
Following!

Clifford Keesler
Welcome Maciej.

Slavo Hazucha
I'll check in here quickly too!

I have an NMF "Mach-2 Pioneers" tripple build with a MiG-21F-13, F-104 and the E.E.Lightning on my extended ToDo list and the Airfix kit is pretty much what there is in 48-scale, so I'm very happy to follow one getting built by a trusted hand!😉

Michael Hickey
I see you got around to the EE Lightning and you're off to a wonderful start as well mate.👍

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much everyone. @ Michael, yes the resin parts you sent me are in there. Airframe construction is mostly complete, I got the intake and shock cone painted today as well as some of the undercarriage parts. I will shoot some primer on the wing roots and intake ring tomorrow to check seam lines. Hopefully will be able to start priming. More pictures tomorrow. I am trying to decide if I should black base it, or try pre-shading as I am doing the light aircraft grey/barley gray with scarlet spine and tail version. @ Slavo I think Sword makes a 1/48 scale kit of it also. Sounds like you are going to tackleing a mountain. I will watch that build with interest.

Augie
Oo Clifford back on the bench! Liking it so far..

Sword does indeed make one also in 1:48, but they are the tandom seaters 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Ok, I did not know that. Thank you for your kind words.

Augie
Nae worries buddy, good to see you back on the bench after the move 🙂

Clifford Keesler
It's good to be back. I spent a week repairing wounded birds from the move. Still have a few to repair, but I had to get started on something new. LOL.

Ben M
I have a thing for lightnings, watching

Clifford Keesler
Welcome Ben.

Tim Heimer
Following! Always wanted to do this one! Sorry to hear about your damaged birds! Bummer

Jens
Hello Clifford, I already had the kit 2 times in stock but I find it so terribly ugly (the original not the model 😉) that I sold it again, but your progress would make me curious again and would be in the metal finish maybe something next to Il 28 and Su 9, I keep watching 👍

Guy Rump
Great start, following 🙂

Nikolaos Kouzinis
Nice big choise Cliff. Following

Jos Jansen
Wow Clifford... missed this, I'll grab a seat!

Mirko Römer
I'm in, too. Pretty crowded cockpit so far...

Clifford Keesler
Welcome aboard everyone, and thank you for your kind words.@ Tim thanks, I got the last of my F-4's repaired today. Just have to fix my 1/48 B-58 and a couple of 1/32 birds, a Hawk and a Spitfire. Made good progress on the Lighting today. It is now ready for primer.

Nathan Dempsey
Geez I almost totally missed this one Clifford. I was literally looking at my own kit just last night, so this is going to be great to see 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Thanks Nathan, I have the basic color scheme painted now. This is the first time I have ever used Mr. Hobby paints, and they gave me a bit of problems at first. Since they are laquers, I fist tried to thin them with laquer thinner. That did not go so well. After some research I found out they are Acrylic laquers or Alacohol based laquers. I thinned them with alacohol and they sprayed ok, but the Light Aircraft Grey was drying before it hit the model. I used a polishing cloth and beffed the paint, and it smoothed it out. I added some retarder to the Barley Gray and it went on just fine. I will let it drey for a day or so and then apply the clear coat. In the meantime I will work on the weapons and landing gear.

Augie
Thats coming on a treat m'amigo

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much Augie. I had some paint problems at first but got them taken care of. LOL.

Nathan Dempsey
That red looks really interesting on my screen. Almost a cranberry.

Clifford Keesler
It is British Crimson.

Nathan Dempsey
Well bravo Brits 😄

Clifford Keesler
It is probably darker than it should be, I probably should of painted it over a white base instead of a black one.

Slavo Hazucha
Maybe it is just that bit darker than what's seen on sunny-weather pics, but it surely looks really cool & mean as it is now.

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much Slavo for your kind words. I just finished applying the clear coat. Tommorow starts the decal process, it has a lot of them.

Ben M
Clifford, what kind of retarder did you do with the Mr. Hobby paints? I've had a devil of a time getting them to spray properly, but to be fair, I have difficulty with airbrushing in general. I seem to get orange peel or spiderwebs no matter what I do.

Clifford Keesler
I will have to look and see, I bought it at the art store. Do you prime your models before you paint. I also wipe mine down with alacohol before I add any paint. I sometimes get orange peel when my air pressure is too high. I usually try and spray between 18-20 PSI.

Michael Phillips
Looking great so far Clifford!!! Great subject choice too.

I use Gunze Mr Hobby paint all the time, love the stuff! Do yourself a favor, get some Mr Color Levelling Thinner. This stuff is like bottled unicorn tears. I use it to thin pretty much everything, including Tamiya paints.

scalehobbyist.com/ma..0013108/product.php?

It's out of stock there right now, but they usually get it in quickly. Trust me, this stuff works miracles.

Clifford Keesler
I had every intention of getting some, it was out of stock the last time I tried to order it from scalehobbyist, but I will get some. I have maybe 14-16 bottles of the Mr Hobby paints now. This bird was the first one I used them on. I like them also and scalehobbyist is the place where I buy all my paint from. Thank you for your kind words.

Maciej Bellos
Looking good Clifford!

Levelling thinner is magic stuff! Enamels(Humbrol and Model Maater) like it too!

Slavo Hazucha
Once again, I am NOT their agent or "Influencer", but I have to break a lance for MRP colors as probably the best Airbrush medium I´ve ever used...

They come perfectly pre-thinned for Airbrush and stay so even when 1/3 or less is in the bottle. Yes, you are buying thinner with each bottle, but then once you set up properly, with lo-pressure (can´t tell you the precise value, I test by feeling & blowing against my hand, but it´s "barely any air coming through" level of pressure...😢 ), the color consumption drops significantly, since they cover extremely well (I never really needed to use more than one full coat (except white = 2)). The layer on the model is extremely thin (every detail stays, so do ALL errors & scratches) and the surface finish is just beautiful. Good decals can even go directly on the colors without a gloss coat & they are absolutely stable vs. Oils & Oil thinner. Even metallics are really good. Unexceptional Primer & Varnishes.

As for spitting, orange peel & spiders, pressure vs the properties of the liquid are key, usually the pressure for good result can be lower than one would think... I go for extremely thin/extremely low pressure... experiment-trial-error & first spray-test always not on the model if you have the faintest suspicion...😉

Nikolaos Kouzinis
Nice job Cliff.

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much for your kind words Maciej, Roland and Nikolaos. @ Slavo, yes I like MRP paints as well. I am also very impressed with Mission Models paints as well.

Slavo Hazucha
Seeing the new pics, I still think the red - while maybe not 100% true - came out great! Bright colors quickly shift a build into "toy territory", this looks like a Lightning captured in "proper English weather" 👍

Nathan Dempsey
I agree. I like the red color as well 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much Slavo and Nathan, for your kind words. The red looks even better now that the wing walkway decals are on. Next comes all th bands on the belly. Will try to get some more pictures up soon.

Tim Heimer
I also agree, it does look better now.

Donald Dickson II
Im late, but Im here!

Clifford Keesler
Thank you Tim and Donald. I hope to get the decals done today.

Daniel
taking a seat here as well before the finale, shes a beauty clifford 👍

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much Daniel.

Clifford Keesler
I finally got all the decals on it.

Dutch
Cliff, Wow! Fantastic work! She's turned out a real beauty. Kindest regards, Dutch

Nathan Dempsey
That's looking the part for sure Clifford 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much for your kind words Dutch and Nathan. It makes me feel good that you like my work.

Tim Heimer
I like it too! Nice outcome!

Guy Rump
Turned out great 🙂

Wim van der Luijt
Your Lightning looks great Clifford, a fine addition to your collection

Juergen Klinglhuber
what is the recommended colour code for the red - I have a 1/72 on the shelf, ready for paint but struggeling with the red,...beside that: great model Clifford!

Juergen Klinglhuber
Oh - NOW a read along all the thread - question for the red solved - sorry

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much, Tim Guy, Wim and Juergen. @ Juergen, no problem sir. I hope to get the wash applied today.

Erik Leijdens
Looking mighty fine Clifford!

Clifford Keesler
Thank you Erik. I put the matte coat yesterday, and for some reason it took off the color on one fuselage panel and the left horizontal stab. So I had to re-paint those two areas. Hope to start final weathering today.

Daniel Klink
Hi Clifford, that Lightning really turned out fantastic so far... Clean and very attractive paintwork..
Love it👍

Clifford Keesler
Thank you very much Daniel. It makes me feel good that you like it.

Gareth Windsor
Looking good. Nice work..... again.

Clifford Keesler
Thanks Gareth, I'm glad you like it. Progress has been slow. I got part of the under carriage done today.

Clifford Keesler
I finally got a full days work in on this one yesterday. All that is left is to put the decals on the missels and install the seat and canopy. I will try and get some pictures up tomorrow.