Airfix Model World – September 2019

INTERMEDIATE BUILD
P-38J LIGHTNING

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

P-38J LIGHTNING

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 83

paint was chipped by scratching

the surface lightly with a wooden

toothpick. The blades were then

weathered with the combination

of a silver Prismacolor pencils and

A.MIG-1208 Rainmarks Effects

wash. Lastly, a spattering of A.MIG-

1601 Medium Grey Panel Line

Wash, flicked with an old brush,

completed the look.

Basic colour coats for the main

airframe were Vallejo’s 71.016 Olive

Drab and 71.051 Neutral Grey,

which were airbrushed freehand.

Once dry, three applications of

X-22 Clear Gloss prepared the

surface for decals.

Bright markings

Reference photos of ‘California

Cutie’ showed a minimum of

maintenance

stencils, which

made decaling

an easy process. Kagero provided

just aircraft-specific markings, so

items such as national insignia

had to be sourced from either the

kit sheet or the spares box. The

Cartograf-printed decals went

on flawlessly and needed just a

touch of Micro-Sol to settle into

surface detail.

Two additional applications of

X-22 Clear Gloss sealed everything

and provided a smooth surface for

A.MIG-1602 Panel Line Wash Deep

Grey to be flowed into recessed

panel lines. After drying, any

excess was removed with a paper

towel, in the direction of airflow.

Decanted from the aerosol can,

TS-81 Flat Lacquer varnish was

then airbrushed in light coats

to harmonise the finish. Post-

shading effects were accomplished

via heavily diluted XF-69 NATO

Black, which was sprayed onto

A.MIG-1208 Rainmarks Effects

wash. Lastly, a spattering of A.MIG-

1601 Medium Grey Panel Line

Wash, flicked with an old brush,

completed the look.

Basic colour coats for the main

airframe were Vallejo’s 71.016 Olive

Bright markings

Reference photos of ‘California

Cutie’ showed a minimum of

maintenance

stencils, which

made decaling

Cartograf-printed decals went

on flawlessly and needed just a

touch of Micro-Sol to settle into

surface detail.

Two additional applications of

X-22 Clear Gloss sealed everything

and provided a smooth surface for

Decanted from the aerosol can,

TS-81 Flat Lacquer varnish was

then airbrushed in light coats

to harmonise the finish. Post-

shading effects were accomplished

via heavily diluted XF-69 NATO

Black, which was sprayed onto

Seam work was completed

with Mr. Dissolved Putty,

with any excess removed

with an isopropyl alcohol-

moistened cotton bud

after the filler had dried.

For added interest, dents were

created on the fuel tanks via a

ball-spur bit; these indentations

were then sanded to smooth

edges, which produced a

convincing appearance.

 Painter’s low-tack tape was cut into ½in-wide (12.7mm) strips and applied as masking for

the D-Day identification markings.

 Kagero’s decals didn’t provide for the unit triangle on the tail. A mask was cut using a

photocopy of the accompanying book’s colour profile.