Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Hi all, you won't find me in this section very often, but I can't help lovin' a Lightning. I got my 48th scale kit this morning and had a look at the instruction booklet and duly painted the cockpit matt black, but while drinking my coffee I had a butchers' on the 'net and the cockpits were, it seems, mid grey! Would anyone knowledgeable like to comment on this? I am not using any fancy aftermarket stuff, just what the kit provides, which looks great to me, but the colours seem a bit off. Cheers, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Early Lightnings cockpit black and late marks changed to grey No doubt someone will be along in a minute who is a Lightning expert and will be able to say exactly when the change took place. which mark are you modelling? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Nowhere near the books, but IIRC 1 (the few), 1a and 2 were predominantly black, I ***think*** the Change occured with the 3. Not sure what that'd mean for the F.2A, but as those were extensively modified... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Thanks, gents. That explains it. I'm doing an F1, as to me, it ain''t a Lightning without the pointy fin. Many thanks, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 The matt black, after a little use looks like a dark grey!" But very irregularly, so probably best left as simple matt black. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 4 hours ago, tempestfan said: Not sure what that'd mean for the F.2A, but as those were extensively modified... If I may slightly hijack the thread, can anyone give a definitive answer of what it does mean for the F2A? I think the cockpit should be grey, having been modified to later standards but would appreciate word from one who knows for sure Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Mine is now matt black with a slight, almost imperceptible coating from a brush of cleaned off white. Then some grey. It gives just a tiny hint of texture, no more than that. The decals in the kit have a grey background and it's a wrong grey at that, so worse than paint. As the moulded parts hint at needles on gauges I have been able to suggest the different colours of white and various shades of black with a little wear thrown in. The likelihood is that there will be very little visible through the canopy. I am including the pilot as I want a roll out version with the canopy shut. I had to cut the back of his knees to get him anywhere near fitting and his backside still isn't in the seat, but you can't see that either. I am enjoying building a kit for the first time since I was 8 years old! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 The f1,1a,2 and t4 were black and the f2a,3,3a,6 and t5 were dark admirality grey. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Thanks, Darth, cockpit painted, pilot painted, jet tract in, cone painted, fuse halves together, fin on. Just falls together apart from the pilot needing his legs breaking! I also painted some tiger heads on his sleeves and helmet. 74 sqdn. RAF Coltishall for me. OK, my time's my own largely, but this thing has fallen together so far. Is it possible to get details of a start up compressor, (Hoochin is it?) It would look good on the concrete next to it. Cheers, Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 29 minutes ago, Scratchbuilder said: Is it possible to get details of a start up compressor, (Hoochin is it?) It would look good on the concrete next to it. Cheers, Martin It is: David J Parkins' Flightpath Models does a 1/48th Houchin 25KVa GPU for less than £20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 Alas that is much more than I paid for the model aircraft kit itself! If I can get some basic measurements, I could make one. Thanks, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 27, 2017 Author Share Posted July 27, 2017 There seems to be an Italian made resin kit for 10 Euros by Video aviation. That's a possibility if I can find it from a British supplier, but where does one start looking for the smaller suppliers? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 21 hours ago, Darth Vader said: The f1,1a,2 and t4 were black and the f2a,3,3a,6 and t5 were dark admirality grey. Thanks Darth, most helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Lightnings didnt / dont need a ground starter just a battery cart. It has its own starter that runs off Avpin. Check out Bruntingthorpe s lightnings on youtube or better still get along to one of their open days and feel the noise . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 I realise that's all they have at Bruntingthorpe,( I have been and felt the thunder) although I don't see how they get 3 phase AC out of a trolley, but in the day, they used Houchins. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 For daily use we used to use AC and DC from a Houchin at Binbrook but we could do a DC start (just like the trolley Acc's the LGP use) but the pilots did like the AC on as it was used to run up all the other bits and bobs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Well you learn something new everyday, cheers Tweeky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 On 26/07/2017 at 9:20 PM, Darth Vader said: The f1,1a,2 and t4 were black and the f2a,3,3a,6 and t5 were dark admirality grey. why did the air force use a navy colour? can of worms opened! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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