Airfix 1:72 English Electric Lightning F.2A
Discussion
It's my birthday today so my 9 year old son bought me this as a present - he is quite proud tha he was allowed to go into the model shop on his own & buy me a model with his own money. 
Now the thing is I haven't built a kit like this for in excess of 15 years (Lego has taken over) so although it a small kit I am quite looking forward to building it.
The question I have is this - how accurate is the colour scheme on the box & the instructions as I only recall ever seeing Lightnings in silver, white or black.
It just doesn't look right in green so any help/advice would be appreciated.
Now the thing is I haven't built a kit like this for in excess of 15 years (Lego has taken over) so although it a small kit I am quite looking forward to building it.
The question I have is this - how accurate is the colour scheme on the box & the instructions as I only recall ever seeing Lightnings in silver, white or black.
It just doesn't look right in green so any help/advice would be appreciated.
Yeh it's fine, there were loads of different schemes over the years depending on squadron, location, role etc. If you fancy something different, do a Google search for Lightning Decals. Here is the Xtradecal set from Hannants for example:
Personally if you're a beginner I'd avoid silver since it's tricky to get right, and the Airfix plastic is textured (cheap moulds) so needs a lot of prep. for a decent silver finish. You might also want to dump the paints etc. you've got there and get some decent quality acrylics for brushing such as Vallejo model colour.
ETA: Happy birthday!
Personally if you're a beginner I'd avoid silver since it's tricky to get right, and the Airfix plastic is textured (cheap moulds) so needs a lot of prep. for a decent silver finish. You might also want to dump the paints etc. you've got there and get some decent quality acrylics for brushing such as Vallejo model colour.
ETA: Happy birthday!
Edited by dr_gn on Monday 29th September 13:48
Thank you.
I wasn't sure about the colour scheme however now I know it's ok then I will build as it is. Had already decided to invest in some better quality paint.
I'm not a beginner - i have an extensive collection of plastic model kits on display a my parents house (along with in excess of 40 unbuilt kits at home!!) - however I had already decided against siver as I know from past experience what a b
h it can be to get applied correctly.
To be honest the quality of the moulding doesn't look to too bad - at least not to me so I will not be making any changes simply because i wouldn't know to start & as its my first plastic kit build for many many years I just want to get it built & put on display in my sons room.
I will post some photos of the build once I get started on it.
I wasn't sure about the colour scheme however now I know it's ok then I will build as it is. Had already decided to invest in some better quality paint.
I'm not a beginner - i have an extensive collection of plastic model kits on display a my parents house (along with in excess of 40 unbuilt kits at home!!) - however I had already decided against siver as I know from past experience what a b
h it can be to get applied correctly.To be honest the quality of the moulding doesn't look to too bad - at least not to me so I will not be making any changes simply because i wouldn't know to start & as its my first plastic kit build for many many years I just want to get it built & put on display in my sons room.
I will post some photos of the build once I get started on it.
I have seen some of his builds - absolutely awesome stuff. Sadly I will never get anywhere near the good Dr's standards.
Reading through the instructions it says that the model requires 4 gms of ballast in the nose section so what would you recommend as being the best stuff to use as ballast?
Also the instructions say that the finished model can be mounted on a stand in 'wheels up' configuration so as the stand isn't included any ideas as where I can get a stand from?
If I decided to build the model 'wheels up' is the ballast required?
Daft questions however I have always built cars & I have never built an aircraft before now!!!!
Reading through the instructions it says that the model requires 4 gms of ballast in the nose section so what would you recommend as being the best stuff to use as ballast?
Also the instructions say that the finished model can be mounted on a stand in 'wheels up' configuration so as the stand isn't included any ideas as where I can get a stand from?
If I decided to build the model 'wheels up' is the ballast required?
Daft questions however I have always built cars & I have never built an aircraft before now!!!!
Edited by fatboy69 on Monday 29th September 14:06
fatboy69 said:
Reading through the instructions it says that the model requires 4 gms of ballast in the nose section so what would you recommend as being the best stuff to use as ballast?
Also the instructions say that the finished model can be mounted on a stand in 'wheels up' configuration so as the stand isn't included any ideas as where I can get a stand from?
If I decided to build the model 'wheels up' is the ballast required?
Daft questions however I have always built cars & I have never built an aircraft before now!!!!
Use some fishing lead shot for ballast, secured with pva as far forward as you can get it.Also the instructions say that the finished model can be mounted on a stand in 'wheels up' configuration so as the stand isn't included any ideas as where I can get a stand from?
If I decided to build the model 'wheels up' is the ballast required?
Daft questions however I have always built cars & I have never built an aircraft before now!!!!
Airfix sell stands in a separate pack.
You shouldn't need ballast with wheels up, but try to balance it about where the stand fits as a check.
It was the "15 years" comment that made me think you were a beginner - Sorry!
No I haven't. When I built the cars I always painted everything by hand.
Those stand look lovely - off to see if I can get one of the clear plastic stands as they look so much better than the black plastic stands - which adorn all of the die cast model planes that I am currently collecting!
Those stand look lovely - off to see if I can get one of the clear plastic stands as they look so much better than the black plastic stands - which adorn all of the die cast model planes that I am currently collecting!
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff