Lightmart

Hi All, I have recently been informed that I will be going to Bruntingthorpe next month, as part of my job. My visit will involve working in the Ex Wattisham QRA shed, so I will certainly be visiting the ex LTF Lightning (as a ex LTF man) housed within. A thought occured to me here, does anyone need any detail photos taking of any parts for a model they might be building ? If so, let me know and I will see if I can take them while I am there. Regards Martin

Thanks guys, Advice taken and adopted. Regards ML

Hi All, You may have read my previous (and first) thread on the forum about the build of the 1:48 Airfix Lightning aircraft kit. I hope that someone may be able to throw some light on the bewildering array of "aftermarket" bits that seem to be available on the web for this kit......for example on the Hannants website. Searching on this website for "Lightning" brings up a whole host of bits that seem to be available to add to the airfix kit. My questions are..... Which of these bits are any better than the stock parts ? Are they as easy to fit as it would seem ? (I doubt it!!) If any, which kits do members seem to use generally on their builds ? I notice offerings from companies called.....CMK, Flightpath (I already have one of their brass RAF Nitrogen Trolley kits), Eduard, Aeroclub etc. My thoughts are to buy any recommended bits and keep them in stock with the kit until I have built up my experience level a bit. The ultimate objective is to build an F3 with its FOD guards, ladder, missiles (probably Redtop) and various bungs and blanks fitted into a diorama with a Houchin and Nitrogen trolley etc. As usual, all replies gratefully accepted. Regards ML

Hi All, Well I have just officially frightened myself with the Lightning kit......hell thats a big kit!!!! So, I think that the advice to try a smaller and less expensive kit first....is very sound to say the least!!!! The potential for cock-up at the 1/48 scale is immense........somehow I just wasn't ready for the sheer size of the kit Thanks for all the advice so far.....it's obviously built on experience....the like of which is just occuring to me. Zero, I certainly am not brave enough to consider an NMF version, my experience on Lightnings mostly centres around the green and grey or all grey painted version. so I am considering this route. Regards ML

Hi All, Thanks for all the encouraging replies....especially the tool list. I have most of the items on the list already except for the fine tooth saw. I did neglect to mention the scale of the kit I bought....it is a 1:48 kit. I bought it from ebay for £45. I bought it simply because I saw the kit and liked it, rather than anything else.....and my Lightning connection!!! I also realised that being an F3 version, it might "transform" into a T5, especially as this was the mark of aircraft I was used to on LTF. I have seen a bewildering array of cements and glues available, but I am tending towards to brush on liquid type stuff (MekPak), any advice here ? I will apologise now, in advance, for all the annoying and "obvious" questions I will undoubtedly ask. The purchase of a 1:72 kit may be sound advice, in advance of the "big one"!! I am wondering whether it might be a good idea to get some model building experience under my belt first and put the Lightning kit into storage for a while!! Thanks to everyone who replied ML

Hello All, This is my first foray into the world of model building and I was advised to sign up to Britmodeller as the "source of all knowledge". I have never built a model before, so as an ex lightning man ( LTF - Binbrook 1980's), I thought that I might start with the kit below I have done the easy part...buying it on ebay...now the difficult part, building it Have any of you experienced builders got any tips on this kit please ? The work displayed on this site is nothing short of excellent, by the way. I was hoping to build an example of a Lightning T5, but the kit doesn't exist apparently. Any help gratefully appreciated, as I am a complete novice. Thanks ML

Absolutely!!! Spent a happy time on LTF in the '80s doing that job !!!

Definately natural "shiny" finish...I know this from my experience of "Wadpol" and lightning intakes and polishing the inside of them!!! ML