1/48 Airfix EE Lightning F2A (original release)

Gallery Article by Richard Spreckley on Mar 14 2016

 

      

This is my first build of 2016! The Original Airfix 1:48 EE Lightning F2A release. I have upgraded the cockpit using the superb Neomega resin tub and seat, along with the Eduard PE set for the undercarriage. The decals are from the RAF Germany set by Model Alliance.

This is my first build portraying a bare metal finish. I have read, many stories about the success and problems with Alclad, so I decided to have a go with the new Vallejo Metal colours which are acrylic and I prefer to work with.

Although an old tooling this kit is sublime to work with and goes together beautifully. I had no issues at all, although I was slightly concerned how old the decals in the kit which I was going to have to use for all the aircrafts stencils.

Once primed with Tamiya’s light grey I painted the blue spine and fin, post shaded and when cured masked. I then applied the Vallejo gloss black primer. I did this in light layers, sanding with fine grit to keep a smooth surface until it was like glass. I left the primer to cure for 3 days and then plunged into the world of Bare Metal, again lightly spraying the base colour of aluminium and once dry highlighting and accentuating individual panels with a variances of Durillium, white aluminium and steel. The under belly was done with chrome and again highlighted using different colours.

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Whilst this was left to cure I ventured into another realm of modelling I have never attempted! Using metal foil I managed to get a decent finish on the nose and exhaust rings. This was an important step for me as I have not come across a chrome paint that comes close to this sort of finish, and the polished metal nose ring of the Lightning which it is famous for!

The whole model was then given a coat of Vallejo’s metal gloss coat, patience is definitely required for this metal finish look, so after a couple of days to ensure everything was cured I started on the decals.

This brought the model to life, once completed another coat of gloss clear was added and I then finished of with a light grey panel wash on the metal and a dark wash on the blue spine and tail.

I am really pleased with how it turned out. The Vallejo paints worked very well and in my opinion are as good as Alclad in finish.

Richard Spreckley

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Photos and text © by Richard Spreckley