LightningBoy

Hello Lightningboy2000, Thanks for the feedback on the Vampire. I didn't know there was another Lightningboy on this forum. Have you seen the 1: 48 Lightnings I have done and posted elsewhere on Britmodeller? LightningBoy

I run courses on Time Mgt and Project Mgt so no excuses for me lol LightningBoy

I spent 15 months on 1 AEF and flew in all 4 that we had at the time - WB569, WK518, WK642 & WZ845. Just for you, your favourite at RAF Manston Happy days. LightningBoy

I always wanted an EE P1 as it was the forerunner of all the Lightnings I have built. The Frog kit is very basic and very difficult to get. When I saw this example already built on Ebay I grabbed the chance as I knew I could give it a refurb. It needed one new tail plane and a rub down and full repaint - here is the finished model LightningBoy

My model depicts a De Havilland Vampire WZ590 which was built at Hawarden and delivered to No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Leeming in Dec 53 as shown in the photograph below. In 1954, WZ590 spent 9 months at Marshalls of Cambridge for improvements and upgrade work before returning to RAF Leeming. In Nov 59, WZ590 moved south to RAF Oakington and joined No. 5 Flying Training School. In Mar 62, it moved north again and joined No. 8 Flying Training School which was then based at RAF Swinderby. In 1963 it was withdrawn from service as the Jet Provost began to take over the training role of the Vampire. WZ590 was one of 77 Vampire T.11’s that were sold back to Hawker Siddeley Aviation between 1963 and 1969, for refurbishment for onward sale to other overseas air forces. WZ590 eventually returned to HSA in 1968 but didn’t find a buyer and remained in storage at Hawarden until 1971 when it was moved to Woodford. WZ590 was gifted to the newly formed IWM outstation at Duxford and arrived in May 1973 without its engine and a lot of its parts and equipment. LightningBoy

Blasts from the past. Wessex HAR2 XR501 of 22 Sqn - I built this model whilst on shift at ASF, RAF Manston in c1976. We worked 24 hrs on then 24 hrs off for 2 weeks then had 7 days off, can you believe it? Only one day in 3??? Anyway i built this model during the evenings when the shift had put the 2 Wessex in the hangar for the night. We were on call 24 hrs a day in case the helicopters were needed for Search and Rescue duties during the night. Anyway, building this Wessex was made easier by having the chance just to pop outside to see the real thing for any detailing required. Admittedly, it is quite basic by todays standards however it was a conversion from a Frog Mk 1, meaning it needed a completely different shaped nose made from balsawood fitted and completely new exhausts made from, guess what?? The second Wessex HAR2 is made form a Matchbox kits years later, long after I had left RAF Manston, however I did have a lot of photos to refer to. The Chipmunk T10 of 1 AEF RAF Manston was also made while I could just wander outside to check on any details I wanted. I had to do the modelling at home for this one as we were busy all day strapping Air Cadets into the back cockpit. No doubt some of you ex-Air Cadets from the SE will have WK518 in you F3822. LightningBoy (Hint on what the Wessex exhausts were made from)

Just finished the final detailing of XM144 whilst woking on my RSAF F53... My model depicts an English Electric Lightning F1 of 60 MU as flown from RAF Leconfield in 1967. XM144 c/n 95040. Lightning F1 XM144 was first flown on 1114 Mar 60. First served with 74 Sqn until moved to 226 OCU in 1963. Damaged in a wheels up landing XM144 was then transferred to 60 MU at RAF Leconfield where she served as a pilot currency aircraft for those testing Lightnings on completion of their servicing. Whilst at 60 MU XM144 wore the Units markings on the nose, the only Lightning to do so. Red Top Tip When finishing one model off there is often some waiting time which can be used on initial building of the next....

Hello SkyHunter66, I'm most of the way through a similar build as detailed in a WIP 53-67. My version will have the blue underside. You have chosen to apply the RSAF 'Roundels to both wings whereas the silver RSAF Lightnings had a RSAF roundel on the port wing and RSAF on the other wing. Genuine question, do you have any evidence of both wings having roundels or chose to put roundels on both wings? Would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers. LightningBoy

Further progress on 53-670. Humbrol 29 Matt Dark Earth now applied - next step will be a second coat on the Humbrol 83 Matt Ochre. I have seen many articles on using pre-shading before applying the top colours, IMHO I have never seen a finish where this has made the model look more like the 'real thing'. The following photo of a, guess what, Lightning illustrates my point - how visible are the edges of the panels? What are your views on pre-shading? Red Top Tip Emery boards used for filing jobs - keep using them and the coarseness of the new ones will gradually get finer over time Different scalpel blades for different jobs LightningBoy

Progress on 53 670, Masking complete prior to painting, not much needed when brush painting First coat of Humbrol 83 Matt Ochre camo on - it was quite thick straight from the tin so I diluted with small amount of white spirit. Pattern will need a bit of adjustment when I apply the Humbrol 29 Matt Dar Earth Red Top Tips Clamps readily available free from each end of trouser hangers What I use for drilling holes, it is the bit from a normal hand drill and has sufficient weight for it to apply enough pressure to ease the drill through plastic LightningBoy

KingTiger435, List of lessons learnt was earlier on in this post, not another post. Lessons learnt include: Nose ring and Figure 8 fairing around jet pipes now silver foil tape instead of painted silver on first 3 Gun panels and airbrakes now found how to make them fit better, still a difficult job (see RSAF Lightning build for tips) Positioning all the small decals on the fuselage is made easier by leaving off the undercarriage and tailplanes to the end of the build Fixing the cable ducts on the side of the fuselage is easier done when they are still in 2 halves in that you can push down on a flat surface LightningBoy

This is the second set of fin flashes I applied. The first set looked silver in the middle once on the fin. I didn't notice this until after I had covered with satin varnish. I removed the first set carefully, found another set with white in the middle, applied them and ended up with the same result??? I think it might be the white reflecting all that silver. Any thoughts would be appreciated. LightningBoy

Brilliant job - well done. LightningBoy

Great work John, especially with the limitations of the Airfix F3 start point. I gave my girlfriend Hazel this kit to build as a follow on to her Spitfire intro to modelling. I know how to woo a girl LightningBoy

Next posting will be XM144 which is nearly finished: LightningBoy

Hello tweeky, Thanks for all the info. I envy your time on Lightnings, my early years were spent on 1st and 2n line servicing of Wessex, often out in the open air great. I never really enjoyed 3rd line servicing, up the hill to Binbrook in the dark, into the hangar, then into a Lightning, often in the jet pipe bay in the dark with a dim torch. Just when our Lightning was having air tests and final snag fixing we would tow it back into the hangar and see our next Airfix kit Lightning waiting for us to put it back together. Would much have preferred your experience on Lightnings. Can't complain though, spent 6 years at Halton as an Instructor leading me to my present occupation as a self-employed trainer with no boss doing as much work as I want to. LightningBoy

Thanks for the feedback Ian. I only spent 15 months at Binbrook and left in 1983, probably while the Lightnings present were still at their best. I have been to Cold War jets 3 or 4 times to watch the 2 Lightnings - brings a tear to my eyes and a trauma to my eardrums. Love your Lightning going vertical - I'll look at your WIP in more depth. LightningBoy

Great model, love the finish LightningBoy

Thank you KingTiger. LightningBoy

I'm sure this isn't what you meant but in the mean time... LightningBoy

I'll give it a go when I get a moment - watch this space. LightningBoy

On one of my other posts I gave someone a list of lessons learnt - a good modeller learns from other people's mistakes. LightningBoy

Thanks for your feedback Bryanm, NMF courtesy of a Matt Silver rattle can from the Pond Shop. LightningBoy

Thanks King Tiger. LightningBoy