Airfix EE Lightning F.2A in 1:72 scale, Wing Commander J.B. Mitchell, CO 92 Squadron

This is the new tool 72nd scale Airfix Lightning in the colours of Wing Commander J.B. Mitchell, CO 92 Squadron, circa 1972 - what a brilliant kit, especially compared to other representations of this type that have come before, especially the Trumpeter effort. Shape and detail of this Airfix kit are spot on and the finished model looks especially impressive on the shelf! Click on the images to view larger..

I was quite happy to build this OOB but then saw some neat images of this same machine on britmodeller..so I've replaced the Wing Commander's pennant from the spares box, drilled out the cannon ports under the cockpit, added the spine whip aerials etc etc

One or two issues during the build of course; the canopy fit using those huge lugs wasn't good so they came off and I forgot about displaying the model with the canopy open and had to do a bit of a re-spray, the cannon ports didn't fit too well and unwisely I decided to fit them after painting the airframe, my chrome bits don't look particularly 'chromey' despite the Rub n' Buff and then there's the canopy moulding 'flaw', but I can hardly see it to be honest and it doesn't bother me at all. Finish is Halfords Aluminium and Humbrol 11 (brush applied). The burnished effect on the jet pipes is a light burnt umber oil wash. I still have a few stencils to put on, but I've had enough for today..

 Air Britain pic via Robin Walker of Airfix kit subject XN 793

Airfix EE Lightning F.2A new tool 1:72nd (build review)

Progress on the Lightning - straight forward enough apart from the forward fuselage fit and the area around the jet pipes needs some work as the internal location 'lug' fouls everything. The location of the forward gear leg is a little imprecise - get it right and the 'seat' of the model is perfect; I've seen a couple on BM that don't look right at all because that front leg is wrongly located. After deliberating for ages over which finish to apply - the decal sheet is huge - I've gone for the natural metal and blue of  92 Squadron of RAF Germany, 1972. No Alcad for me I'm afraid, this is Halfords Aluminium straight from the can with a bit of a wash to bring out the nicely engraved and raised detail all along the fuselage.

The metallic finish has though come out a little 'grainy' over the grey primer so I've had to 're-do' with an old-fashioned paint job using Humbrol 'metallic' and highlighting a few panels with 'Rub n' Buff' which is very easy to work with..nearing completion and I'm starting to think that the cockpit is a little bare. I've added some canopy actuator tubes and rods but I wishing that I'd done more now as its all going to be quite visible with the canopy open..at least its not a tail sitter. Those airbrakes will probably be posed open.. heresy !