Special Hobby E E Lightning Detail Sets (for Airfix 1:48)

[Mike]

E E Lightning Detail Sets (for Airfix 1:48)

CMK by Special Hobby

 

 

There are a lot of Britmodellers who must have a soft-spot for the English Electric Lightning, and if you model in 1:48, the Airfix kit is the way to go, as it is perhaps the best of that era from the pre-Hornby days.  Two versions are available, and each have been reissued on more than one occasion, so you can choose from the F.2A/F.6 or the F.1/F.1A/F.2/F.3 boxing, or get the both like I've done.  Along come Special Hobby, perhaps spurred on by the recent Eduard boxing, with a spread of aftermarket resin sets for both kitted versions.  Each set arrives in a clamshell box suitable for their shape and size, with the resin parts cocooned inside, and the instructions sandwiched between the plastic and the card header.  Some sets are specific to each kit, while others are suitable for both, such is their common subject matter.

 

Airbrakes Set (4343) All Variants

This is the most simple of the sets, containing just eight pieces of resin, two of which are spares in case you lose any of the brake jacks.  The instructions show which part of the fuselage skin you need to cut away to allow you to fit the single part  bays from the inside.  These have a small amount of wiring moulded in, and a mounting point for the base of the actuating piston.  The other end fits into the hinge-point on the brake itself, and that as they say, is that.  Colour call-outs are made throughout the short instruction booklet using names and Humbrol colours for reference.

 

 

 

Front Undercarriage Bay (4344) All Variants

Although this set is designated as the nose gear bay, it also includes the distinctive nose cone and intake bullet that is seen at the centre of the intake.  This replaces the kit parts, with the radome a separate part from the bullet, which also houses the detailed gear bay.  A small probe is added under the radome with a stator vane added to the top, and this is then sandwiched within the kit trunking.  And after the fuselage is completed, the three resin gear bay doors are glued into place on their hinges.  Again, colour call-outs are in Humbrol codes.

 

 

 

Main Undercarriage Bays (4345) All Variants

The Lightning's wings are very thin, and the gear bays are too, which leaves little room to cram in the detail.  The instructions suggest thinning the upper wing as much as possible in an area marked out in a separate diagram, which will ease the job substantially.  The main parts have been moulded with the casting lug at the side, so that thinning the roof of the bay shouldn't be necessary, but as it is reasonably thick, some thinning can be done if required.  The same process is done to the lower wing to give a realistically thin edge and accommodate the bay walls, so there will be lots of scraping and sanding done before fitting.  With the bays in place, the three-part bay doors can be added, and detail throughout is superb, from the hosing within the bays to the shape of the doors, making a substantial improvement to the area that is well worth the effort.

 

 

 

 

Control Surfaces (4346) F1/F1A/F2/F3

A full set of resin flying surfaces for the Lightning, including ailerons, flaps and rudder, for which you will need to remove the areas on the kit wings, as shown in the first step of the instructions.  As well as removing the need to reform the kit parts' leading edges, the resin parts allow you to take the easiest and most destructive way of removing the areas of the kit wings, without worrying about damaging the surfaces in the process.  Bring on the Dremel!

 

 

  

 

Control Surfaces (4349) F2A/F6

This set is as per the one above, but has the simple ailerons that were used in these marks, with the same rudder and flap sections.

 

 

 

 

Cockpit Set (4347) F1/F1A

Comprising a complete replacement cockpit tub for the early Lightning, it also includes a new seat; coaming; side wall inserts; rear deck and new side consoles, plus a sheet of printed acetate for the instrument panels, which will need painting white on the rear.  The seat has moulded in straps, and a separate resin ejection lever for the headbox.  The control column is also included along with a couple of smaller instrument panels that are festooned around the main one.  Detail is good throughout, although the resin panel seems a little soft (as opposed to sharp) on my sample.

 

 

 

 

Cockpit Set (4350) F2/F2A/F3/F6

This set is broadly similar to the one above, but has a different instrument layout moulded into the sides of the tub, and comes with four alternative main panels depending on which variant you are modelling, with a larger sheet of acetate that has all of the instruments printed out to add behind.  The seat, coaming, side walls and rear deck are of course the same in both sets.

 

 

 

 

Engine Set (4348) F2A/F6

This five piece set comes in a larger box because of its size. It depicts the topmost Number 2 engine of the double-stack, and allows the display of the large panel that hinges open in the mid-fuselage to expose the Rolls-Royce Avon engine.  A tray sits at the bottom of the cut-out and supports the engine, with a pair of bulkheads either end.  This isn't strictly-speaking accurate, as the bay floor isn't flat, but due to the cramped nature of the fuselage interior, it won't really notice, and if it bothers you there are some great photos out there on the 'net to allow you to add any extra bits that are vaguely seen down the sides.  With a little extra wiring etc. around the place and perhaps the V-shaped stay, the highly detailed engine and scale-thickness fuselage panel will look striking with some sympathetic painting.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Wow!  That's a lot of resin, and you can of course pick and choose what you want to use from all those sets.  As usual, take the precaution of wearing a mask when cutting or sanding resin, as the tiny particles are harmful to your health if breathed in.  Washing the parts in warm water will also improve the adhesion of paint, as there may still be some moulding release agent on the parts when you receive them.

 

Highly recommended, and available soon.

Review sample courtesy of

[bootneck]

That certainly is an impressive array of resin there Mike.   Their site shows that all items are available now.

[Mike]

You're right on both counts Mike - updated the review