SkyPainter303's Revell 1/25 '99 Ford sVT F-150 Lightning

[SkyPainter303]

And now for something completely different.

Maybe the airplane mojo has left me so I happen to have seen this truck kit at my LHS.



















From Wikipedia:

Introduced as a 1993 model, the Ford SVT Lightning is a high-performance version of the F-150 produced by the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT).

Intended as a competitor for the Chevrolet 454SS, the SVT Lightning shared much of its structure with the F-150, but extensive modifications were made to the suspension and frame in order to improve the handling. Powered by a 240 hp version of the 5.8L V8, the Lightning used the 4-speed automatic transmission from the F-350 (normally paired with the 7.5L or diesel V8s).

Though slightly slower than the discontinued GMC Syclone, the Lightning retained much of the towing and payload capacity of its F-150 counterpart.

The Lightning was produced from 1993 to 1995; it was discontinued as Ford began design work on the 1997 F-150.

For 1999, the SVT Lightning returned after a three-year hiatus. As with its 1993-1995 predecessor, the design of the Lightning used the F-150 as a basis with a number of suspension modifications. Instead of a model-specific engine, the Lightning now used the 5.4L engine from the F-150; fitted with a supercharger, it produced 360 hp (increased to 380 hp in 2001). As before, the transmission was borrowed from the F-350 diesel pickups.

In 2004, the Lightning was discontinued, as it was not included in the redesigned F-150 model line.

[SkyPainter303]

As usual assembly starts with the powertrain. The engine block and cylinder heads didn't fit together very well. It took a little coaxing to get them together. After I got the aluminum parts together, I primed with the tried and true, black, Stynylrez. For the aluminum color I used Model Master Acrylic Aluminum.







I primed and painted the small engine parts while still on the sprue. For the parts to be semigloss black, I used Vallejo Model Color Gloss Black. I also used Vallejo Natural Steel on the exhaust manifolds. I do prefer the very quick drying time with MM as compared to Vallejo. Vallejo also has a distinct texture that feels a lot like latex paint.

[DougvH]

LOVE IT!!!! I actually had a 99 lightning in blue, been driving F-150s ever since. It was my gift to myself when i separated from Active Duty.

[SkyPainter303]

I finally got the supercharged, 5.4L V8 engine completely assembled. I haven't had much time at the bench.

I've got a little touch up to do, but I like it so far.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I am watching, gotta support another auto builder

[SkyPainter303]

I am getting in some more bench time tonight. The dashboard has some strange engineering. The dash center was molded separately and doesn't fit perfectly. The instructions also show the dials decal going to the wrong piece.





Below, you can see the gaps in the dash pieces. I filled the gaps on the backside with Tamiya White Putty.









The bench seat is molded in two pieces that also, don't fit together perfectly. I filed and sanded the seam. Then, I filled and reshaped the seat seam with Tamiya Basic Putty.







Finally, I primed all of the interior pieces with black, Stynylrez.

[Lysus]

It's...it's not a plane! IN!

[SkyPainter303]

Over the pasts few days, I was able to get the interior painted and assembled. The instructions called for light and dark gray, so I grabbed some Model Master Acrylics I had on the shelf. They are probably not totally accurate, but they look OK. The colors were brush painted in two or three, thinned coats.





I varnished the seat, door panels, and dash with Vallejo Satin Varnish. I left the carpet unvarnished.









The moldings in this kit look nice, but the overall fit isn't great. I test fitted the interior to the cab and found that some trimming will be necessary to get it inserted correctly.

[SkyPainter303]

So far, I haven't run into any major obstacles with this Ford SVT Lightning, but because of the way this kit was engineered, the body isn't easily painted separate from the chassis. The rear bulkhead, front firewall, and floor pan are sandwiched around the interior tub. To insure, a flawless paint job, these parts must be painted as one.





In preparation for painting the body color, I have chosen to reverse paint the window trim. First I primed the window trim with gray Stynylrez, then sprayed Model Master Flat Black Acrylic. After that I used Incredible White Mask Liquid Frisket (applied with brush) to the black window trim. I filled the window holes with Tamiya tape












After I finished masking, I inserted the interior tub, then added the firewall, rear bulkhead, and floor pan. These are all glued to the cab with Tamiya Extra Thin cement.

[SkyPainter303]

These past couple of days, I've been working on the Lightning's truck bed. The fit of the pieces are just as bad as a real American made vehicle. The rear bumper fit horribly. One side protruded from the body badly. To fix this problem, I made an "L" cut in the end of the bumper, bent it to shape, then filled with Tamiya basic putty. When the putty was dried, I sanded it smooth.









The side skirts on the bed also fit very poorly. I filled those gaps with Tamiya white putty wiped clean with a lacquer thinner soaked cotton swab.

[SkyPainter303]

I was able to spend some time at the workbench these past few days. I assembled the chassis parts that are to be painted black (which is most of the parts). I then primed it in gray Stynylrez. I also primed the cab and the upper surfaces of the truck bed.





After priming the cab, I sanded it with a fine sanding stick. Some of the primer peeled off one of the fenders. I later touched up that area.







During my session in the spray booth, while cleaning my Iwata NEO, the nozzle broke. In order to finish priming, I had to fall back on my $20 Harbor Freight Tools airbrush. This brush still works well.

[Lysus]

Why don't nozzles break when you're NOT in the middle of something?

[SkyPainter303]

I got a little painting in before I head off to work for the night. I sprayed the chassis with Model Master Acrylic Gloss Black mixed with Acrylic Flat Clear and thinned with Testors Universal Acrylic Thinner.

[SkyPainter303]

Well, I painted the cab today. I chose Model Master Acrylic Arctic Blue Metallic shot through my HFT airbrush. This combination of paint and airbrush was problematic because the paint would just about be dry by the time it hit the model. I laid down a few mist coats, but when it came time for a wet coat, the paint just wouldn't cooperate. Finally I figured out I had to pump up the compressor regulator up to rattle can pressures. The paint job is far from perfect, but it looks like I'll be able to work with it. Once it cures, I'll sand it down to remove some imperfections.

[SkyPainter303]

Today, my time at the workbench was spent fixing the paint job on the Lightning cab. There were a number pieces of trash in the paint which I had to sand out. After I sanded the paint, I did a spot prime in preparation for a re-spray. In the midst of my re-spray, I dropped the cab! Argh - I had to start over on the one side. Finally, I got a decent coverage and when dry, I did a fine wet-sand. Next up is a final clean up and then the gloss clear.

[SkyPainter303]

I only get to work on my builds a little each day. I've primed and painted some more small parts while still on the trees.




I also installed the steering box and the engine into the chassis.




Another coat of Testors Acrylic Gloss was sprayed onto the cab. As much as I enjoy building cars, painting the bodies really is something the I have a difficult time doing. I'll do a wet-sand of the cab then post pictures later.

[DrSprue]

Im really new here, so I keep looking at the top! But kept following this thread for this weathered truck. A real nice build so far. Love the dash! We need to have some automobile sigs somewhere here? err... a.. no..., I couldn't handle that, way too much pressure!

[DrSprue]

Ahhh I get it now.... Thunderbolt ---> Lightning.... yea makes sense (seems the older I get the more stupid I get following you guys) Just got it backwards Looking good tho Mike, I do love that blue paint work and that engine is awesome!

[SkyPainter303]

Now that I've finished my Gannet, I'll get back to the Ford Lightning. Today I wrapped up the cab section by painting and installing the glass, added some engine bay details, and the windshield wipers. One thing I forgot to do was attach the review mirror - whoops. Earlier I wet-sanded the blue paint and gave it a light polish. The polish left a white residue in the panel lines so I darkened them with Testor CreateFX black enamel stain.


P1040073 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040074 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040075 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040076 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040077 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I started the paint job on the truck bed tonight. I painted the underside and gave the upper side it's first few, light coats of Artic Blue Metallic.


P1040079 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040078 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[DrSprue]

Love that blue paint Mike..looking really nice so far!

[Lysus]

Nice and smooth. Keep it up!

[Tomcat64]

Yep that's coming together really nicely - like Tony said that shade of blue absolutely jumps out.

[SkyPainter303]

I'm making more progress. I'd like to get this one finished soon because I have an idea for another Warring Weather build.

I've primed the wheels in black Stynylrez, painted the radiator, and the fuel tank.


P1040080 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



I also painted the exhaust system and driveshaft. The driveshaft and pipes were painted with Vallejo Model Color Natural Steel, while the cats and muffler were painted in Model Master Acrylic Aluminum.


P1040081 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr



The truck bed received a few more coats of Model Master Gloss Acryl. It will get a light wet sand before a polish.


P1040082 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I did some more work on the Ford Lightning tonight.

Because I built the chassis out of sequence, the exhaust wouldn't go in without cutting.


P1040083 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The muffler shop was able to weld up the pipes after I cut them. Once I got the pipes glued on, I noticed a misalignment at the tail pipe / chassis glue join. Hopefully, the fit through the bodywork on the truck bed.


P1040086 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Here is a photo of the underside of the chassis showing the installed exhaust pipes, driveshaft, and fuel tank.


P1040085 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The rotor-calipers were also glued on.


P1040088 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040089 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Here is the completed rolling chassis with wheels. The wheel backs had some molded irregularities that needed to be trimmed off because they were visible thru the spokes.


P1040091 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

Thank you for the compliments, but for my next build I'm going to skip the acrylic paint for the body. It takes too much work to get a smooth finish.

My build is going to wrap up soon. Today, I added the cross supports to the underside of the bed as well as painted the black bedliner, step bumper, and side steps. These were brush painted with thinned, MM acrylic flat black. The bedliner took two coats.


P1040093 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040096 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The backs of the tail light lenses were painted aluminum to simulate the real trucks light reflectors.


P1040092 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Finally, I attached the truck cab to the chassis. Because the radiator was attached to the chassis before the body was attached, there was an alignment problem. While sliding down the body, the airbox had to be removed to make it fit properly. I then re-glued the airbox. I have a feeling I'll need to pop it loose again when it comes to finish the intake piping.


P1040097 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I'm in the home stretch. The last few pieces have been primed with gray Stynylrez. I also attached the bed to the chassis and am quite pleased with how this kit is coming together.


P1040098 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040099 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040100 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[SkyPainter303]

I am getting a little closer to finishing. Today I painted the last few pieces. The bumper and hood are now blue. They need to be wet sanded and clear coated. The mirrors need the black trim painted and it all needs to be assembled.


P1040101 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040102 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

[Tomcat64]

That's looking really tidy - looking forward to seeing the final assembly

[Lysus]

Always nice when there's parts you don't need to cut from the runner first. Makes things so easy!

Really liking the blues.

[SkyPainter303]

Here is my final build update for the Ford Lightning F-150. The final assembly as revealed a few fitment problems.

1. The truck bed/cab/chassis alignment is warped, which means the truck bed kinda floats in place.
2. The hood won't close if the radiator header is in place, so I removed it.
3. The front bumber/facia won't align with the hood.

The painted underhood.

P1040126 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The painted front turn signal lenses. I used Model Master Acrylic Turn Signal Amber

P1040127 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The painted high-mount stoplight.

P1040125 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Detailed front fascia minus the lenses.

P1040124 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Painted and assembled mirrors.

P1040128 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Silver enamel on the badge applied by dragging across, a toothpick.

P1040133 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040131 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


Fitment problems

P1040135 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


P1040132 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr


The completed model. I'll post nicer photos in the reveal thread.

P1040134 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr