EE Lightning F.2 92 Sqn, RAF, 1965
Finally Finished.
Yahooo.... All decaling finished, now on to weathering.
Finally back to where I was about a month ago.
Man that light at the end of the tunnel is getting bright.
Almost ready to be decled again
Almost ready to be decled again
The black has been applied and needed a couple of touch ups.
Back at the beginning of painting, the wings had to come off It would always bug me if I didn't change them with the proper ones.
When the black is finally dry I'll use Tamiya polishing compound and give her a rub down for a nice glossy finish in readiness for the Alclad II paint.
She's all stripped and the correct wings are on, now where's that bottle of primer.
ARGH... Almost forgot to put on the leading edge lights before the primer.
Correct wings where they belong.
Blue went on really nicely.
Only the stencilling to go, wish I spotted my wing error while taking this pic.
Defiantly the later wing where it shouldn't be.🙁
She was on the home run at this point.... Damn those wings.
The gap I will fill with Evergreen strip and then smooth over with Milliput, then continue painting and decaling the correctly fitted wings.
For added strength I used araldite to glue the wings in position. Unfortunately in the process of removing the wings I cracked the top fuselage join, but the is an easy fix.
Underside not to bad at all, pretty happy with that join.
Same here, I was always taught " If you're going to have a bad fit then at least get one side of the join to be good." Decal needs some attention.
Cut up lead used for weight in a film canister.
Pretty happy with how the join has turned out.
Comments
21 May 2017, 05:52
AugieLike how its looking so far, You have done great with what can be a fiddly kit
21 May 2017, 09:46
Michael HickeyThank You Aris, wings and horizontal tails are on now, just about ready for air brushing.🙂
24 May 2017, 00:38
Michael HickeyFinally got some color on her. Now I'll let her sit for a while to let the blue properly dry before masking over it, I also have to put the nav lights on the wing tips and do a little bit more sanding in the wing roots.
31 May 2017, 01:42
Michael HickeyThanks Eric, I'll probably mask up the blue Sunday evening getting ready to spray the natural metal.
1 June 2017, 22:09
Clifford KeeslerLooking very nice sir. It seems that scheme is the one everyone chooses. I am going to do the grey and crimson one.
2 June 2017, 01:52
Michael HickeyYes this scheme is very attractive, after this one my next one will be in Saudi markings, and then I'm not sure if I want to do the grey one with the sharks mouth or an over all dark green scheme.🤔
2 June 2017, 04:49
Michael HickeyAfter having a bit of a spell for a little while I've come back to do some more painting on the EE. Tonight I finished painting everything that needed to be done and applied a gloss coat, tomorrow will start the decaling process. Hopefully I'll have some better pics when she's decaled.
30 August 2017, 11:11
Holger KranichOh Michael goes Oldtimer! Nice to see! And what a wonderful blue...😄
30 August 2017, 11:18
Michael HickeyThanks Holly, hopefully I can stick with this one and get her done because sitting beside me on my workbench screaming at me is my B-ONE Bomber "Symphony of Destruction" 😉
31 August 2017, 00:08
Holger Kranich"Just like the pied piper, lead kits through the streets..." Now you carved the riff of the day in my brain!😄
31 August 2017, 07:27
Michael Hickey"The earth starts to rumble
World powers fall
A'warring for the heavens
A peaceful man stands tall..." there you go Holly, just when you thought you got it out.;)
@Stephen, thanks mate.
1 September 2017, 05:59
Michael HickeyStarted the decaling stage tonight, roughly about half way through. A couple of main decals on the other side to go then I can do the stencils, should have them all on by tomorrow arvo.👍
3 September 2017, 15:24
Alexander Grivonevthat blue harmonizes very nicely with the silver, pretty lightning!
3 September 2017, 17:52
Michael PhillipsLooks awesome Michael, love the scheme choice. I just realized I don't have any Lightings in my stash. Might be time to get one!
4 September 2017, 01:34
Michael HickeyThanks everyone for your very encouraging comments.
@Soren, well it's a bit of work to get the wings together, but saying that the join to the fuselage is pretty good. The speed brakes need a little love and affection to get a nice flush fit as does the nose ring. Overall but this as been really enjoyable, all the decals are out of the box, which so far have gone on with out any issues.
4 September 2017, 06:37
Michael Hickeyyeah, nothing that would worry a seasoned modeller, I've got 2 more to build but I want more.;)
4 September 2017, 07:05
Michael HickeyDISASTER HAS STRUCK....🙁 After getting all the decals on and sealing them in prep for a wash and some weathering, my very good friend looked at the pics and thought something isn't quite right with what I had built. Then it hit him like a tonne of bricks... my wings weren't the right style, they were for the later variants. So after trying to figure out how I managed to mix up my wings from my F.6 Lightning kit, I decided to remove them and put the correct ones on. A really tough decision considering how far along she was, but it's done now so I will go backwards to go forward.🙂
8 September 2017, 04:36
Michael HickeyThanks for your encouragement Cliffy & Patrik. The wingroots are just about cleaned up now and hopefully I'll be able to repaint them soon.
9 September 2017, 13:12
Michael HickeyThanks Patrick, she's basically stripped now and almost ready for re painting.
11 September 2017, 04:51
playtime 222Phew. I have both Airfix kits in the stash too. Would hate to think they got the wings wrong. Glad you sorted it. How did you do the nose weight?
11 September 2017, 08:45
playtime 222Also thanks for these in-progress shots - now I know where to expect the filler and the PAIN!
11 September 2017, 08:46
Michael Hickey@playtime 222, for the nose weight I've got a sheet of lead about 30cm x 30cm that I've had for about 20 years now, and what I do is get prune cutters the kind you use for cutting small branches on bushes. I cut the lead into strips about 2cm wide and about 5cm long and from that I cut it up into even smaller strips until you have little pieces. Then I pour them into the nose cone, when you go to place the air intake in place with the cockpit assembly on top you'll see there is plenty of places to hide some weight. I use super glue to keep all the lead in place.
12 September 2017, 01:43
playtime 222The plans show quite a few places as you say. I've got secateurs in the shed and plenty of church roof as my Dad called it. I was tempted to try to cast an insert for the radome (someone actually sold these commercially years ago) but... well... lead fumes 🙁 Will probably take this simple approach.
12 September 2017, 05:52
Kerry COXReading through the build Michael, and I must say, you set yourself a big challenge with the wing correction. 👍
I, like all the other mates am most impressed with what you have turned out mate.🙂
A tremendous result so far and the finish will be your usual top shelf. 🙂 🙂
Well done. 👍
13 September 2017, 04:12
Michael HickeyThanks Kerry for your encouraging words, repainting starts this afternoon.🙂
13 September 2017, 04:33
Michael HickeyThanks Holly, every time I think I'm ready to start spraying I find another little hair line join. I know I will be defiantly putting the blue down this morning.😄
14 September 2017, 22:08
playtime 222BTW did you rescribe the air brake outline? If not, it's come out well.
14 September 2017, 22:15
Christian BruerSeems to be an odyssey but I lift my hat of the excellent work and your patience! Keep on the excellent work 👍
15 September 2017, 18:00
Michael HickeyThanks Timothy. Got the primer on just a couple of minute areas to deal with hopefully the blue will go on tonight.
17 September 2017, 07:39
Kerry COXMichael. You do realise there are a whole lot of guys out here turning blue ourselves, holding our breaths for what is to come mate. 🙂 hahahahah 👍
17 September 2017, 09:38
Michael HickeyOkay Kerry all I have to do now is mask up the cockpit and then the blue is going on, pics following very soon.;)
18 September 2017, 06:21
Michael HickeyThanks for the support Timothy, I'll put her to one side now as I'm going 4x4 driving/camping on Curtis Island at the end of the week and I'll be gone for quite a few days. Just hope no crocs come wondering into the camp site at night, like I've heard that happens. I'll now go back and work on my F-4 from this same Sqn in her farewell scheme.
18 September 2017, 23:52
Michael HickeyThanks Fellas, it should be right we're setting up on the beach side and not the estuary side but I'm still taking my knife.;)[img1]
19 September 2017, 01:43
Michael HickeyBack from my camping/4x4 trip and had an awesome time place was basically deserted, at one point didn't see anybody for 3 days. After I got back I organised all my molds and cast parts into a new system. Now I'm finally settled back in to do some more modelling.🙂
21 October 2017, 07:38
Holger KranichSo no crocs showed up? I hope your kknife wasnt disappointed...;)
21 October 2017, 13:15
Kerry COXWelcome home Mike. I googled where you camped out, and It looks just far away from the masses as you need to be. The saltie's were in trouble if they took on our Mike with a knife. hehehe 👍
22 October 2017, 04:35
Michael Hickey@Holly, No my knife wasn't disappointed, although I would have liked to have taken pictures of them.
@Kerry, It was good getting away from the crowds, Tammy and I where driving on 4x4 tracks that haven't been used in a very long time. You can tell that when young gum trees are growing in the middle of the track and your just mowing them down using the bullbar.
@Stephan, thanks mate shes all painted silver know, time to get some different shades of metal on.
22 October 2017, 08:07
Kerry COXLets hope the place keeps it's isolation a secret for a bit longer. 👍 They are a real treasure to those who know how to appreciate it mate. For sure. 👍
22 October 2017, 08:25
JensHello Michael, my god what a task
respect, it looks very good 👍 👍 👍
a spatula mountain becomes the model
23 October 2017, 03:52
Michael HickeyThanks Jens, the un-thinkable happened the other night after I put the Alclad II Airframe Aluminium on, I had a piece of dowel stuck in the rear end to hold the plane while I was painting her. After this colour was on I then decided to go buzzing the modelling desk and after a couple of times she took a nose dive and fell straight to the floor.🙁 Now I have pulled out the nose cone and wiped it over with Isopropyl Alcohol so it's back to bare plastic. I can re-paint this part and I have re-glued the forward fuselage to the cockpit that had cracked on impact.
Now a quick sanding job, then on with more metal shades, pics soon.👍
23 October 2017, 23:34
Kerry COXOwwwwww. ! Mike, I am really disappointed you had a bit of a set back, as I do believe we are all guilty at some time of doing the exact same thing, but great to know all is honkey dorey mate. BTW, the wing fuselage join looks as it should be from the master. 👍 Well done. 👍 🙂
24 October 2017, 00:04
Michael Hickey@Kerry, thanks mate, all is good now, just about finished all the painting and decaling to commence tomorrow.
26 October 2017, 11:21
Michael HickeyPics up, nose still has to go on as the ring is just sitting there. I'll take it off and put the nose cone in place then glue the ring into place.
26 October 2017, 11:45
Michael HickeyJust looking at the photos and realised I forgot to paint the lower gun ports, like I said, almost ready for decaling.;)
26 October 2017, 11:49
Virgilio CaprioVery nice job! And congratulations for the courage, at that point I would have never taken off the wings 🙂
26 October 2017, 19:50
Michael HickeyThanks everyone. I wanted to have all the painting finished by now, but life sometimes gets in the way. Hopefully today I'll finish painting her and start decaling tomorrow.
29 October 2017, 23:33
Michael PhillipsThis is inspirational Michael, watching you work through issues and persevere and overcome. She's is a beauty so far, but in the end it is so much more than that...
30 October 2017, 00:05
Alistair GrahamYes inspiration required for me to finish my Sword T5 and 2x Airfix 1:48 models
30 October 2017, 01:09
Michael HickeyThanks Michael & Alistar, I'm glad I can encourage you through your own projects. I don't work as quick as you Michael, but I can see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.
31 October 2017, 00:57
Michael HickeyHalf the decaling is over, should be all done by tomorrow night.
2 November 2017, 06:32
Michael HickeyStarted decaling her again from about 8:30 p.m to near 3 a.m in the morning, and I still haven't got all the decals on yet. Hopefully all the decals will be done by the time I go to bed tonight.
4 November 2017, 02:03
Christian RistitsThats very nice - have it also in my stash - will watch with interest!
4 November 2017, 07:08
Michael HickeyThanks Christian, finally she's back to the stage I was at about 5 weeks ago. Weathering, undercarriage, exhaust, canopy and the antennas and probes, then that should be it.😄
4 November 2017, 07:18
Kerry COXTotally and utterly worth the wait. 🙂
I admire your patience Michael. 👍
Take a bow mate. 🙂
4 November 2017, 10:30
Michael HickeyThanks Guys, hopefully I get her finished real soon. I'm buying a new cabinet to display her in.
5 November 2017, 01:07
Kerry COXMichael, IKEA have great display cabinets for less than $100.00 mate. ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/40354042/
5 November 2017, 10:28
playtime 222A word on cabinets in general - cos I looked into Ikea at the time and they had this issue - try to find ones with as small a gap around the door as possible cos even a 5mm gap lets in a lot of dust. Even the cabinet I bought with very little gap at all still let in enough to require a clean of the models (compressed air and a large soft brush) and the glass shelves once a year.
5 November 2017, 14:12
Rene ScheiblichDepending on the width of the gap you can try to cover it with narrow rubber strips. Fixed with silicone adhesive or automotive windshield adhesive. With careful application it doesn't look totally tacky 🙂
For small doors windshield wiper blades do work nicely, else try those strips to stop draft used in doors 🙂
5 November 2017, 17:56
Michael HickeyThanks Christian.
That's good advice playtime & Rene.
Kerry, that's the same style Fantastic has but for about $30 more, and unfortunately the nearest IKEA to me is in Logan 🙁 just off the expressway about 3 hours or so away and they don't delivery to Sandy Beach. Luckily Fantastic is a short 20 minute drive into town. Thanks for the heads up though.👍
5 November 2017, 21:06
Kerry COXAll is good Michael. I also saw that Aldi had the same for about $70.00. !!!
5 November 2017, 21:54
Michael HickeyAnd now she is finally finished, I'll take some better pics and put them into a second album.
11 November 2017, 09:04
Kerry COXWhat a wonderful sight Michael. 🙂
I am not surprised at what you have produced.
Just happy for you that all the dramas are but a memory. 🙂
Well done mate. Just fantastic. 👍
11 November 2017, 09:38
Michael HickeyThanks Guys, and yes Kerry I'm glad this one is behind me know and it's in the display case. Tomorrow a new day and a new beginning, as I will start on my 2 F.6 EE Lightnings. I'll use the resin castings I made which include cockpit and exhausts, as well as flaps. I lost the flaps for this Lightning so I had to mold a set from the F.6 Lightning kit.
11 November 2017, 10:38
Christian RistitsSo I am afraid to start my Lightning, you put the level too high Michael!
11 November 2017, 15:29
JensHello Michael, I say that often, but never with such a really good result
since each has minute and each loud word worth 👍
11 November 2017, 16:01
Rene ScheiblichHopefully a dustproof case 🙂 would be a shame to let that one disappear under dust 😉 beautiful bird.
I know the feeling Christian. So many superb models on display here... I make it my goal to get there someday as well 🙂
11 November 2017, 16:39
Michael HickeyThank You everybody for such kind words, and also for your encouragement along the way. It really did help me push through and get her done.
11 November 2017, 23:03
Kerry COXWe all say thank you Michael. That is nice of you to say so mate. 🙂 👍
12 November 2017, 03:40
Michael HickeyThanks Christian & Cliffy. I've started work on my other 2 EE F.6 Lightnings but first I'm trying to teach myself how to make photo-etching at home.
14 November 2017, 06:32
Kerry COXGood luck with that Michael. It is very similar to developing roll film in chemicals, if you know how to do that. I have a kit and I will be watching with great interest. 👍
14 November 2017, 10:07
Michael HickeyThanks Kerry, I had no idea how to do molding & resin casting until I read all I could about it. I then went on to make my own pressure pot and by using that I get perfect casts every time with even the sharpest detail. So I'm looking forward to making my own PE parts and saving money in the mean time as well.
15 November 2017, 02:21
Kerry COXGood for you Michael. 🙂
I am sure what you will do will be most successful. 👍
15 November 2017, 04:43
Holger KranichIs it a flash? No a Lightning! Wonderful looking baby you have there!
15 November 2017, 09:59
Patrick HagelsteinSorry... I was just daydreaming with your pictures without responding...
15 November 2017, 15:37
Clifford KeeslerI think after Christmas, I will tackle my EE Lighting F-6. I have the Aries resin pit for mine. Think I will try some resin exhaust also.
17 November 2017, 03:16
Michael HickeyCliffy, my experience with the Aires resin is that the fit is good for exhaust and pit.
17 November 2017, 04:16
Clifford KeeslerThanks Mikey, that is nice to know as it will only be my second resin cockpit.
17 November 2017, 22:09
Album info
This will be a straight forward build with only the addition of a resin seat and P.E in the main wheel wells. She will be done in the markings of a EE Lightning F.2 from 92 Sqn, R.A.F, Leconfield, UK, 1965.
