Mike W's Supersonic Secret Santa Lightning.

[JamesPerrin]

I'm amazed you can get away with putting the acrylics on without a primer. Do you prep the plastic somehow?

[Mikeew]

I'm amazed you can get away with putting the acrylics on without a primer. Do you prep the plastic somehow?

Nope, no prep other than a polish with a fine(blue) sanding sponge then a dust off and wipe down with IPA, let that flash off which takes only a matter of seconds and the paint goes on a treat. I never prime the plastic unless there is a lot of putty or resin so the surfaces need uniformity, or, as with his model, I am going to use Alclad as that is very unforgiving. If I think it may be a bit delicate I shoot a light coat of clear gloss over it to protect it, Alclad Aqua Gloss being the clear I use and that can go on almost immediately after the paint.

[Mikeew]

With the tail and spine masked off I hit it with Alclad Grey Micro Primer. I will respray the anti glare panel and windscreen black later as it needed a little more attention. The belly tank also had a couple of seams that needed some Mr.Dissolved Putty.





The seat was fun to paint too, might add a light wash and then Matt varnish to finish it off after I add the pull handles...

[iggie]

Blimey Mike, that seat is a proper job! (and I've sat in one )

[Arcwelder]

That's a beauty of a seat. detail on the Sword isn't quite as good (although there's PE pull handles to add) and, weirdly, they haven't provided any seatbelts at all, so I'll have to cobble some together.

[Mikeew]

Thanks chaps!

The seat is finished, and just to give an idea of how SMALL it is I took a pic of it in the lid of a Humbrol tinlet (and no it is not one of the 50ml ones )

this is heavily cropped image





I also got the Alclad Gloss Black laid down as a reflective undercoat for the Aluminium...

[Arcwelder]

That's fantastic work, Mike. Just stunning. I take it you'll model the canopy open to show it off?

[Mikeew]

Yep the canopy will be open to show off the seat.

Now then, I sprayed the Alclad Aluminium and it looked great........but...........






There were some rough patches where I think the undercoat hadn't cured properly and then I noticed a couple of prominent finger prints to I tried sanding them back but it looked awful so without hesitation I stripped it of the Alclad, Gloss Black and Grey primer back to bare plastic including the blue tail. I wasn't happy with it so it was cleaned back and primed again. Lets try again.....

[iggie]

Actually that looks pretty good stripped back

I hope you get a better finish this time around

[Martin R]

Looking great, Mike!

regards,

Martin

[shangos70]

Great work Mike and an excellent heads up on the little dodges you use during the build. Those seats look fantastic. How much and where did you get them if you don't mind me asking.

[Mikeew]

Great work Mike and an excellent heads up on the little dodges you use during the build. Those seats look fantastic. How much and where did you get them if you don't mind me asking.

Thank you.

The seats were from ebay for £5.69.
Barracuda design stuff is top notch and worth every penny. I got the masks and wheels at the same time from the same seller, which was handy.
Also available via hannants of course, https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BCR72213;

[shangos70]

Cheers Mike, I ordered a set of seats. Are the masks a one shot deal or possible reuse? I may go mad and order those too.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Good work on that paint re-do.

[iggie]

Any joy with this?