AnonymousAA72

indeed, also discussed here..... http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234993987-sword-148th-lightning-t45/

Gotta love a Cranberry build....just one thought for consideration...Airfix's rendition of the goldfish bowl is woeful! It's too flat, squashed even. I'd recommend getting a hold of A2zee/Alleycats replacement...

The all doors closed version would only be appropriate for a Harrier flying forward. The doors closed due to air pressure. When on the ground with engines running, or "in the hover" all doors opened to allow maximum air in. When at rest gravity took over, so the top 3 or 4 on each side drooped open.

In all honesty the Kinetic kit is vastly superior in ALL aspects to the old Tamiya kit. I've built an FA2 and am converting another to a GR3 and have had few issues with fit. I've used very little filler on either. I've not started my FRS1 yet, but will tread very carefully. Mr B looks like he may have had a rogue kit....

Nicely done Tom, very nice indeed....

My first impressions are that this is a good model. It's very reminiscent of a Classic Airframe kit, the plastic is well moulded and shiny and has no location lugs/tags. The cockpit interior is adequate, the canopy inners could do with some additional detailing, and the Neomega set may help there. Regarding accuracy, I've not measured the kit nor compared it to any published diagrams, though I can confirm that the fuselage is the same length as Airfix's, that's good news as I was worried they may repeat the same mistake as they did with their 1/72 nd scale kit. In fact this kit compares very closely in detail to the Airfix kit.. Silly mistakes include the portrayal off the missiles....a "red-streak" and "fire-top", instead of the Firestreak and Redtop! Also, the decals are very well printed, but the pale blue outline on the 56Sqn chequerboard is noticeable by its absence! In fairness Sword aren't the only people to get this wrong! As I said, these are my first impressions based on the parts still on the sprues. My opinions may change as I build the thing, but so far so good... As for the comments about the cable ducts above by feldr in post 17, these seem fine. what magazine did you these comments...I get most magazines and haven't seen a write up on this kit. Can I also suggest that if you do read something that you wish to pass on that its referenced?

The kit has the bulk of the cable ducting moulded to the fuselage. For the T4 parts 28 and 29 fit to the front completing the duct. This is the same as the single seat F1a/F2/F2a. The T5 uses parts 70 and 71. These are longer and the same as the F3 and F6.I've not measured them to see if they're the right length, but it wouldn't be that difficult to extend if necessary. The kit looks fine from where I'm looking. I've not measured it or compared it to the Airfix kit yet.

Oh dear......more money .......

ALARMs...sling some of those on! I'm going to build ALARM BELLE one of these day.....

i may treat myself to this, and see if I can shoe-horn it in.... http://www.neomega-resin.com/148th-ee-lightning-t45-conversion-interior-parts-only-849-p.asp

Superb Andy, just superb!!

...easy for you to say that!! Yeah masking a circle for something......

Methinks an over indulgent libation hath indeed already ensued,,...... Nice Dark Green BTW!!...looking good Jonners

I built that actual model a few years ago, in 1/48th using the Hasegawa Showtime 100 kit. There's another photo of her that was published..... ZE350/T I think, showing it a bit better.I painted the slat in zinc chromate yellow. This was the only airframe that had the ECM pods on the intakes removed...Edit: here's a link to a few photo's posted on ARC a long, long time ago....... http://www.arcair.com/Fea1/401-500/Fea470-F-4J-Clark/00.shtm

Are there any consuls moulded into the side walls?

All of them unfortunately, but that is still one gorgeous model...very well done! A couple of other minor niggly errors....and you are not alone in this as it seems to be catching....the fin flashes. Red should face the front..that's easy to fix if you deem it necessary. Also I think that when the central tank was fitted, the fins were removed. They look a bit too big anyway. But these are very minor points...that really is a lovely looking Jagular.......well done indeed!!

I doubt it, you can see the plastic in the thread in the Rumour-monger section. Looks like same plastic in both issues..... Its not just the IP that will need amending, the throttle controls if included will need attending to.... EDIT see this link http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234980655-sword-148-english-electric-lightning-t4-and-t5/?p=2187917

Hi Chris...PM inbound....

A hole in thin plastic card would be my choice...back with a good dollop of blu-tac to hold in place.

Matt..NO!!! The Lightning F2 is NMF & silver, or dark green over NMF & silver.......but YES to Xtracrylic's. They are a bit fragile, but I use them all the time due to the colours being pretty spot on for RAF/RN aircraft....apart from their Medium Sea Grey, which is a bit dark ( I use Tamiya's). I spray them on a highish pressure with a few spots of acrylic retarder included, thin with either Tamiya, Xtracylic or even windscreen washer fluid! Regarding fading, take a look at as many colour photo's as you can, less is often more! Halford's primer is good, but I find both Humbrol's and Tamiya's a lot better as the grain is finer. Polish up with micro mesh, gives a superb paint ready base. They take a bit of practise, but well worth persevering with. Vallejo's recently announced metal range is superb! I'd recommend those for a NMF....

How accurate is the kit's cockpit for either the GR1 or GR4? Nav's consuls look way under sized. Is the NeoMega set any better in this respect for a GR1?

Thanks Chris, no, I've not added any pic's of the layout for a while.... I won't be able to get to it until next month sometime. Aim is to get the manshed finished in early Spring and then install the layout then! I live in Biddenden now, so that's bit nearer to you than Sittingbourne! Be nice to meet up again!

Thanks Callum, we really do need Airfix to do the decent thing...in both 1/72 AND 1/48th.....or 1/24th! That would be a whopper!

Thanks Jonners, I have another in the stash and will certainly use the Neomega cockpit on that. I fancy an S1 too, but would really need the 'Navy/SAAF' boxing as the Heritage set only offers the intakes and not the standard Bomb bay...though that could be fashioned from plastic card I suppose...

Yes, you do need to get them while they are available....