1/32 Revell Lockheed Lightning F-5E

Gallery Article by Cyril Worley on June 6 2016

D-Day - Allied Landings in France in 1944

 

      

The subject of this build is a Lightning F-5E serial 42-8624, of 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th PG, Chalgrove, England, June, 1944.

Model used is the Revell Lightning P-38J in 1/32 scale, and other aftermarket products used include, an Eduard photo etched instrument cluster, and seat harness, a set of high quality resin wheels by Aires, and a white metal landing gear by Scale Aircraft Conversions. The decals used are part of a set by Peddinghaus-Decals of Germany.

Click on images below to see larger images

I started off by discarding the kit cockpit which is very basic, and replacing this by a new more accurate scratch built one. All offensive armament has been removed from the nose and all apertures plugged. All PR equipment has been scratch built, and alterations made to the underside of the nose and side panels to accommodate the cameras. As this was the first flush riveted US fighter, I removed all the over scaled rivets which made it look like a cheese grater.

The Alison V-1710 kit engine was not so convincing and some alterations and additions had to be made to it, in particular the glycol reserve tank. The engine cradle was also altered as the fixing points were completely different. This was then attached to a re designed firewall which was missing various items especially the oil reservoir with its pipes and cables. The engine cover was built separately and fitted over the engine. The wheel wells too had to be detailed as the kit ones are completely bare. The front tricycle strut was given a more realistic position by cutting drilling and placing a piece of metal inside.

Having previously painted the interior in zinc chromate and the camera bay in black, I now turned to the overall PR blue and the invasion stripes. As this is a late war aircraft the haze blue was no longer in use but replaced by the British PR blue. 

The model was painted using Vallejo acrylics, decaled, weathered and finally finished with Alclad 2.

Cyril Worley    Society for Scale Modellers - IPMS Malta.

Click on images below to see larger images

 

Photos and text © by Cyril Worley