The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

Just found a picture of a T55 at Wharton
http://www.aviation-picture-hangar.co.uk/55714.html;
I may do this one

I haven't found any pictures of T55s with over-wing tanks, so I guess I'll be leaving them off.


I'm also thinking of having this wheels up (in flight)

Construction has continued



Black primer

I never liked the over-wing tanks to look at, although I'm sure there was many an RAF pilot who thought they were the best thing since sliced bread on a ferry flight!

Shaping up nicely, Ratch. I'm no Lightning expert so can't confirm whether or not the trainer carried the o/w tanks but given that a lot of training flights are of relatively short duration would there be the need for additional fuel tanks?

Thanks gents, on with the main paintwork

Nice one, what paint did you use for the NMF, Ratch?

Hi Shaun, it was a bit of a complicated process. First I airbrushed Vallejo Acrylic 74602 Black Polyurethane Surface Primer over the airframe and the small parts I would fit later. The black anti-dazzle panel, canopy and top of tail fin were sprayed Vallejo Model Air 71057 Black as were the jet pipes which were then over-sprayed with Alclad2 ACL-113 Jet Exhaust. The nose ring was airbrushed with Alclad2 ACL-107 Chrome. When these had dried I sprayed the radome Vallejo Model Air 71043 Olive Drab then masked the black areas of the airframe and airbrushed a coat of Klear. More masking was laid down before I sprayed selected areas with Alclad2 ACL-303 Honey Primer Base. The masking was removed and in a couple of areas the black primer lifted. These areas were re-sprayed without masking. Once this had dried I sprayed all over with Alclad2 ACL-119 Airframe Aluminium. The honey primer gave a noticeably different appearance; I liked the tonal variations. To enhance this and other areas I open sprayed AK480 Xtreme Metal Dark Aluminium. Everything was then given another coat of Klear in preparation for the decals.

And finished

more in the usual places

Thanks for the info re the NMF, Ratch and the finished model looks excellent!

These two kits have hit the bench:-
Revell's '69 Corvette Coupe



And a Parkside Dundas Rudd

Thats a bigger Lightning than mine Ratch,but well tidy all the same.
Regards
Ken.

Thanks Ken
The Rudd could be made to run (its supplied with Romford wheels) but I will leave it as a static, I did a bit of spraying on it today

I'm giving it the Engineering livery as they appeared when I worked on freight - but it will be heavily weathered

Meanwhile, back on the 'vette and the power pack

is the railway truck white metal?

No Chris, its plastic, but two types (apparently). The instructions recommend superglue for certain specified parts