60 Sqn Lightning F6 VGA

[Gondor]

Inspired by Spinners' and the recent purchase of Freightdog Models Lightning VGA set for the recent Airfix F6 version of the aircraft I decided to give this a quick go.

The inspiring picture

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The work so far



So far the cockpit and a few other parts were painted in a dark grey last night and earlier this evening the exhaust parts were separated from the sprues and parts of them painted in Humbrol 53.

I plan on doing this sort of OOB other than the wings and decals. With luck I shall have this finished for the end of the Group Build but it might be a bit of a push. I am thinking that it probably deserves to be in overall metallic but because that can be a pain to get right with all the different panels in different colours I will more than likely go for Light Aircraft Grey with Dark Grey and Green upper sides. Black spine and Red/White/Blue roundels will finish the ensemble.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Great stuff. That pic is defo inspiring !

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Go go go!

[Thorvic]

I am thinking that it probably deserves to be in overall metallic but because that can be a pain to get right with all the different panels in different colours I will more than likely go for Light Aircraft Grey with Dark Grey and Green upper sides. Black spine and Red/White/Blue roundels will finish the ensemble.

What about the Dark green uppers over ali bottom with the extra shading on the tank areas, like the RAFG F2s, as would work well in the far east ?

[Gondor]

A lot of what influences my choice of colour scheme will be the in-service date as I am likely to keep with what actually happened in reality as far as painting the aircraft. Saying that, the Far East could always be a bit behind times too.

Still I have the best part of a week to build it before I need to get the paint on it.

Gondor

[Gondor]

First decals have just been applied 

No, I am not working as fast as dizzyfugu, the decals are for the cockpit 

Saying that, I do have one wing built as well as having separated a few items. I will have to scratch build one fin for a Redtop as one is a little short shot but I believe that is a problem common to all of the kits. Should not be much of a problem to replace so I am tackling that sooner rather than later to save me from famous last word syndrome.

Leaning more and more towards a natural metal finish with an all black spine as that should make it really quite eye catching and help draw the eye of the punter away from the fact that it has swing wings 

Gondor

[Gondor]

A picture to show the progress so far



The fuselage has the cockpit and exhausts fitted inside and then buttoned up. Still got loads to do which includes adding a touch of filler here and there as the fit while great is probably a little off due to my clumsy self rather than due to Airfix. On the whole though it's a case of so far so good.

Settled on going for the all over metal finish other than the spine and fin which will be black as per Spinners aircraft.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Looks good already ! Love this aeroplane 

[Gondor]

Added a few more pieces so the fuselage is basically finished. Filler added to get rid of several small gaps probably caused by my fat fingers and the tight tolerances of the kit.



The short shot fin from the Red Top has been removed and a new one cut from plastic card. Far easier to replace than repair I thought. Ejector seat is together as well so the build is progressing nice and smoothly even if a little slower than I was hoping.

The filler should be sanded away at the end of this evening so I had better get cracking with the other wing and painting the canopy and the cockpit combing in anticipation of painting the fin black. Just thought about the area of wing that moves in and out of the wing glove/inner wing, Should I paint that a different colour as with the Tornado or just go for the basic metallic finish I am doing the rest of the fuselage and wing?

Gondor

[Gondor]

The second wing has been put together and I could not resist putting both wings onto the fuselage to get an idea of how it will look.



Think I am going to be buying a set or two more of these wings.

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Is starting to look good

[Gondor]

I've since then given the wings a shot of primer so I can get on with the fuselage while they dry.

Glad I have several different bare metal types of paint and from several manufacturers so the painting will be a bit of a pain but should hopefully look good in the end.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Does it ever.

 

[Weaver]

Should I paint that a different colour as with the Tornado or just go for the basic metallic finish I am doing the rest of the fuselage and wing?

Gondor

I'd say stick with the same metallic finish as the rest of it. The different finish on most swing-wing types seems to be natural metal anyway, as if they only paint them with the wings swept back.

[Gondor]

Should I paint that a different colour as with the Tornado or just go for the basic metallic finish I am doing the rest of the fuselage and wing?

Gondor

I'd say stick with the same metallic finish as the rest of it. The different finish on most swing-wing types seems to be natural metal anyway, as if they only paint them with the wings swept back.

I was actually referring to the area that moves into the inner wing fillet, not the whole outer wing. The part that is normally grey on the Tornado's wing near the fuselage.

Gondor