Joe's 1/72 Lightning F2A Airfix 1/72

[flyjoe180]

This is my Lightning entry for the GB next year. Looking to complete it in the natural metal finish with the blue tail. Will post sprue shots etc later.

[rickoshea52]

Nice choice with the colour scheme, that's the one I did a while back.

[flyjoe180]

Finally got round to pulling the box out for some photos. Here are the box contents, still sealed. The scheme I'm going to go for is the bare metal No.92 Squadron version, as Rick did with his earlier build.

[eddiesolo]

A gorgeous and iconic aircraft and a excellent choice Joe.  

[flyjoe180]

Cheers Si

[flyjoe180]

Looking forward to 1st July and starting the Lightning. It seems from my Phantom GB that I'm a month ahead of myself!

[papa 695]

Looking forward to 1st July and starting the Lightning. It seems from my Phantom GB that I'm a month ahead of myself!

Well at least your ready Joe.

[colin m]

I built one of those. It was a great kit. Here it is doing a space ship impression. Everyone who builds a Lightning has to do this pic, it's the law.
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[flyjoe180]

I built one of those.

That's a beauty Colin. I'll try to remember to do the vertical stand shot when it's done

[flyjoe180]

I'll be starting my Lightning soon! After this week I'll have some time to model again. Back to the fluorescent sky next few days...

[flyjoe180]

I've made a start, no pics as yet. I've assembled the basic cockpit and intake trunking and have found the same fuselage fit issues that others have discovered. I filed the trunking down and sanded the rear of the trunking so it fits flush with the nose ring. However with the cockpit base in position it pushes the underside of the nose area apart. I've tried trimming the cockpit tub sides and the ejector pin marks as Patrick did, but the issue remains. Any ideas? Keep sanding and trimming? I've read Rick's link here http://www.scale-models.co.uk/thread...ning-f6.24710/

[yak face]

Keep at it Joe , Im sure youll sort it , nothing good ever came easy eh?

[colin m]

Keep sanding and trimming?

That sounds familiar. It fits eventually, but it is still quite tight.

[rickoshea52]

Try painting the inside of the fuselage and with the paint still wet join the two halves together then carefully take apart again (no glue), if there are high spots the paint will transfer to the intake trunk and guide you where to concentrate on any sanding or material removal. Repeat as neccessary.

HTH

[flyjoe180]

Keep at it Joe , Im sure youll sort it , nothing good ever came easy eh?

Reckon I've got it sorted now, sanded and filed all afternoon until I had as Colin described, a tight dry fit.

That sounds familiar. It fits eventually, but it is still quite tight.

Think I've achieved a fit which can best be described as tight.

Try painting the inside of the fuselage and with the paint still wet join the two halves together then carefully take apart again (no glue), if there are high spots the paint will transfer to the intake trunk and guide you where to concentrate on any sanding or material removal. Repeat as neccessary.

Cheers Rick. As above, I've thinned the trunking and cockpit tub to a point where I get a tight dry fit. Great method though, I'll use it prior to joining the halves.

Thanks guys, now I feel confident I can priceed worth some detail painting and get the fuselage assembled soon.