Hexus Member goes LIGHTNING

[Zak33]

Our man, Skii, has only gone and got himself onto the front of a web page wel known for aircraft bids and model makers alike

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/

This is a good webby, and Skii (John Morrey) has got a top spot because of his simply stunning modeling skills.

If you aint seen it before.....GO NOW

Fair play Skii....recognition at LAST

[Ravens Nest]

That looks really amazing really life like!
I wish i was that skiiful

[0iD]

Nice one Skii!

Wish mine looked like that when they were finished. Respect due.

[Zak33]

he's bloody good, innee? His tanks are as good too.

[Stewart]

I like Skii, he is my friend!

[Mrs Dak]

Nice one Skii

[shiato storm]

Man thats so cool. I have around 50 planes hanging from the ceiling in my old room at my parents...i don't think any are quite as good as that one! mind you I was a bit younger (inexperienced/impatient?) when I made most of them but still, thats really quite impressive stuff there skii...how'd you paint it so well?

Skii: I notice on the model you have of the Lightning its got a nice metalic nose so you might know how to answer this; for my 17th or 18th birthday I got a P51 mustang, I forget which (i'm 25 now and it was some time ago i got it!), its the biggest one airfix did
Thing is, you see, its been sitting in its box part unmade because i just can't seem to get the right kind of paint that creates the shiney metal finish as it should be. if i use 'silver' paint it comes up all dull and smeered...nasty. how'd you suggest going for the nice finish?

[Howard]

Nice!

[Zak33]

P51......

/pant..pant.....dribble.

[Skii]

Aww shucks you lot

Thankyou guys, you are too kind

Shiato - metallic finishes are not easy on models, you can use standard silver/chrome paint but even when sprayed it just doesn't have the mirror-like qualities of aluminium
aircraft skin, it just looks grainy and non-reflective.

You have 2 choices basically.

1) ALCLAD - this is a product available from specialist model stores, it is a special formula that has to be sprayed only via an airbrush, you basically spray the model gloss black, and then spray the alclad over the top, you end up with a perfect aluminium finish.

2) Aluminium foil. Best stuff is the sticky back variety. I've seen many models finished using the basic technique of applying small micro-thin sheets of baking foil and they look amazing, but be warned the process is incredibly tricky and time consuming. It does look awesome though.

The intake ring on my lightning was done using the 2nd technique, using sticky back lead foil used for glass embossing. It took a good few attempts to fit a sheet of super-sticky adhesive foil to a ring without leaving a single crease or tear, but I got there in the end

[shiato storm]

ooh cool, ta skii - now might get to finish it properly after all this time!! awesome

[da_ging]

very nice indeed, how long did it take you to do it all?

[Skii]

very nice indeed, how long did it take you to do it all?

Cheers

About 3 weeks in total, (2-3 hours a day)