Lightning T4 Matchbox Airfix cut 'n shut

[Miko]

In another thread 'boatman' requested seeing the build thread pics from my 145sqn Lightning T4.

This one was put together in around 2009 using Humbrol rattlecan acrylics and tinlet enamels


The Airfix F1a box art is one of my all time favourites



I can't find the before and after pics of these aeroclub Martin Baker Mk4 metal seats



I'll skip the sprue shots and on to the fuselage comparisons



As can be seen in this photo I modified the T55 vertical tail rather than use the ancient less accurate Airfix vertical tail.



Warpaint Publications no14 BAC Lightning was used for reference





I cut out the T55 ventral tank not only with a razor saw but also a Stanley blade



The ventral tank needs a little attention, Squadron Green was my filler of choice in those days






Didn't get the Airfix ventral tank cut right, needed a plasticard shim



Lots of quick drying Squadron Green


Rattle can Humbrol white to check for flaws in the finish



Sanding back the heavy Matchbox detail molding on the wings paint check then sand again. . . . ad infinitum



On to paint. . . .

[Steve-the-Duck]

Oh, this is proper 'old school' model making. Cut and shut indeed!

[Miko]

Tamiya masking tape and hand brushing with Humbrol Hu174 Signal Red.


Took quite a bit of working out where to put the little strips of masking tape



A million coats of wishy washy thin Humbrol Signal Red, grateful thanks to Mr Tamiya for his exceptional no bleed under tape



Rattle can Yellow, can't remember which one, but it's a bit bright for RAF Trainer Yellow



All that Matchbox panel lining sanded back



I can't remember the Modeldecal sheet number, but they went on really well!





Quite possibly the last time I 'armed' one of my builds


Miko (feeling retrospective)

[Steve-the-Duck]

I am reliably informed that, because of the 'area rule' streamlining the two-seaters were more 'slick' than the early singletons
And no-one thought of deploying them as an 'attack' variant? No room for big radar?

[Miko]

I am reliably informed that, because of the 'area rule' streamlining the two-seaters were more 'slick' than the early singletons
And no-one thought of deploying them as an 'attack' variant? No room for big radar?

Aerodynamically the F6 was more efficient, but they had higher wave drag from the external intakes and outlets of the Avon 300 series engines rather than the 200 series of the earlier marks, it was the higher power output that gave them true mach 2 performance, however the F2a with the 200 series engine and the larger wings, vertical tail and larger ventral tank was considered the best Lightning to fly

Miko (if I went on Mastermind my specialist subject would be the English Electric Lightning)

[Steve-the-Duck]

Miko (if I went on Mastermind my specialist subject would be the English Electric Lightning)

Well, don't let me stop you

[Lee Drennen]

That is Beautiful Miko. I’m impressed how you make these old kits look so well

[vizenz]

Wow, what a surgery! But you were rewarded with a great model! Wonderful craftsmanship, my respect.

[Mark1]

A very nice result.

[boatman]

Miko wow what a thread i really enjoyed this as i spent so much time with my dad in the crane liftin engines out of the real planes an i think the EE LIGHTNING was way ahead of its time a fantastic aircraft or rockect plane as i often heard it called an you are by lightyrs a far better modeller than me as have i got this right that you used 2 kits to get the overall plane ? WOW A BIULD an i really like the plane in its sudi colors as well as raf roundels an you seem to know a heck of a lot more about the planes than me as when i was lookin at the real planes back in late 60's an early 70's there was not hardly any info in them days about the plane but i got a sit in one in the hanger very well done sir an thank you for showin the build thread cheers makes me feel like to see if i can get a T4 in 1/32 scale
cheers
chrisb

AN Miko i had a good look around a mk 6 with the over wing fuel tanks at on airshow at raf coltishall an some one said they leaked fuel badly was this true ?
chrisb

an this was a pilot who wrote an artikle in a book as he was flyin a mk 6 to cyprus an he said they leaked badly ?
chrisb

AN Miko regards the radar nose cone i see them in kits like you one at the top of thread in brown but when i see them in real they were a dark green was it to do with the speed an air restiance that changed the colour ?
chrisb

[Miko]

AN Miko i had a good look around a mk 6 with the over wing fuel tanks at on airshow at raf coltishall an some one said they leaked fuel badly was this true ?
chrisb

an this was a pilot who wrote an artikle in a book as he was flyin a mk 6 to cyprus an he said they leaked badly ?
chrisb

Many of the Lightnings that were lost was due to engine fires caused by fuel leaks, including the tragedy of Dave Stock of Thunder City, although that was due to poor servicing.

AN Miko regards the radar nose cone i see them in kits like you one at the top of thread in brown but when i see them in real they were a dark green was it to do with the speed an air restiance that changed the colour ?
chrisb

There were two types, from F3 onward they were reinforced to cope with Mach 2 performance, made from fibreglass they would erode over time through the thermal cycles they had to endure, this would change their colour to give a paler green steaked effect, they couldn't have any protective coating applied because of the limited power output of the Ferranti AI23 AIRPASS radar system.
I used Humbrol Hu88 Deck Green, I never was really happy with it.
The inlet shock cone was a really clever piece of kit not only housing the radar set but it needed to cope with incoming supersonic air without causing intake lip 'buzz' and deflect airflow out board to compensate those 60deg swept wings, quite a feat of aerodynamics from the unrecognised 'genius' of Ray Creasy at English Electric, Warton, but that's another story!

Miko ( if this is a thing you should see my build threads in my Canberra A1 prototype and A&AEE Javelin FAW9 !)

[boatman]

THANKS Miko for your reply
chrisb

[Scratchbuilder]

This takes me back to the days of 'If you want it, then you have to make it' modelling...
And what a great job you made of it, and the decal finish is spot on. I agree with your comment on the Humbrol paints of that time, I went back to the model shop three times to get a tin replaced.... And if you wanted a bit of extra weight you went for the Aeroclub seats which were the business then....
Two seat A-7 Corsair and F-106 in the special scheme are two that I can remember building, both appeared in the early editions of Scale Aircraft Modelling, under the editorship of the late Alan Hall, and I appeared at A&E to get my forfinger sewn up after the scalpel slipped and made it way from the nail to the middle knuckle while carving the spine for the A-7.
A credit to you skills.

[boatman]

Miko you say you know a lot about the plane well heres a qeustion that ive always wondered about what does that black painted bit on the tail tip signefi ?
chrisb

[Miko]

Miko you say you know a lot about the plane well heres a qeustion that ive always wondered about what does that black painted bit on the tail tip signefi ?
chrisb

It's a dielectric panel hosting a UHF antenna, many believe it to be an IFF (interrogation friend or foe) transponder, even Spitfire's had 'Pip-squeak' 1khz tone generator used for IFF, however, the Lightning did not!

Miko