Tim's Lightning T66 - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

Whetting you whistles with this Matchbox Lightning. . . .

that I'm planning to corrupt.

Here are the parts.

Leftover decals from my recent Revell build.  I won't be using the kit decals

This kit was from a colleague,  he's just lost his father, for whom I had built some model Meteors, Harvards, and a Defiant.

This kit and a Revell Lightning were in his effects.   I'm thinking of you John.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Whilst we are waiting for the off, here are my other builds of this Two-Seater kit.

First as USAF what-if - built 1998.

Same model other side, a US Navy what if.

Hold that two schemes, one model idea - it's part of my plan.

 

Next a Fleet Air Arm Lightning - built 2003.  Another what-if.

This paper project never actually got off the drawing-board - but had variable-geometry.

 

And an RAF T5 conversion built 2003

using Airfix Lightning F3 belly-tank, and wings.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Nice choice, i do like the swing wing version myself. Have to wonder if the stubby wings would work though ? 
 

Dennis

[theplasticsurgeon]

TwistedNews brings you this late update:

In 1985 as part of the agreement to sell the Panavia Tornado to the RSAF, the 22 flyable Lightnings were traded in to British Aerospace and returned to Warton in January 1986.

While BAe touted the ex-Saudi Lightnings worldwide, no sales were made, and they were eventually disposed of to museums.

The dual-seat T-55 aircraft were a different story, and quickly snapped up by the RAF, following refit by British Aerospace. 

Here was a combat capable trainer aircraft, with the performance and capability of their Lightning F6 - and more.

These aircraft received the RAF designation Lightning T66.

Distributed to existing RAF Squadrons, which by 1986, was just No5,  and No11 Squadrons - you're going to see both insignias.

 

By 1986 the RAF was maintaining a permanent presence in Oman, to support local forces in detering escalation of the Iran Iraq conflict.

Thus aircraft were professionally repainted in a desert scheme prior to deployment.

 

Additional commitments to the North, particulary reinforcement of Norway, continued - and the Lightning force had their part to be played.

 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Off to a flying start, cockpit and crew coming together. 

I've used Tamiya tape for straps, gel-pen for the vizors and surrounds.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Fuselage assembled around the cockpit.  Wings  under preparation, and dryfitted,

 

Something I hadn't noticed on my previous T55 builds,  this kit has gunports in the belly-tank.

Going to exploit those for this build.

[Hook]

On 9/23/2019 at 2:34 AM, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Have to wonder if the stubby wings would work though ?

 

The basic concept seems to have worked well enough for Sukhoi to create the Su-17/20/22 family. 

 

Cracking builds all, Tim! What RoG boxing (Hasegawa? Matchbox? RoG repopped both) are those 11 Squadron decals from?, I may have to hunt one down just for those. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[theplasticsurgeon]

1 hour ago, Hook said:

What RoG boxing (Hasegawa? Matchbox? RoG repopped both) are those 11 Squadron decals from?, I may have to hunt one down just for those.

This one

built earlier this year.

 

[Hook]

22 minutes ago, theplasticsurgeon said:

This one

Thanks! I will look for this (just for the decals - the Hase is now thoroughly outclassed by the Airfix).

 

Cheers,

 

Andte

[theplasticsurgeon]

So now wings and tail are fitted.

Tippex to smooth the joins.  Canopy is dryfitted.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Back home before the rain,  airbrushed Humbrol 11 underside.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Masked underside, insulation tape and old photos.

[Hook]

Nice progress!

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[theplasticsurgeon]

Airbrushed Humbrol 27 on on port side.

I'm going for different schemes each side.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Masking for a dual scheme,  Timstyle.  Using a photo of a Lightning.

[stevehnz]

I like what you're doing with this Tim, keen to see it come in. That Hu 11 looks a bit on the grainy side, I must say my new tin, same colours as your one, doesn't brush out anything like as well as my old & much treasured tin which has finally expired.  

Steve.

[theplasticsurgeon]

airbrushed Humbrol119 stbd side.

and this from the port side again

[theplasticsurgeon]

Camo masking TimStyle.

In this case scaled plans from the recent Revell Lightning kit, cut out and stuck to the model with Copydex.

 

 

The idea is Sand, this side.

 

And Green on this.

 

Ready for airbrushing.

[whitestar12chris]

Coming along nicely i see.

 

All the best Chris

[theplasticsurgeon]

What a time to discover  - dried up sand colour paint!

Revert to Humbrol 163 Green.

[Robert Stuart]

Tried looking at this in both FireFox and MS Edge but can not see the images, only place holders

[whitestar12chris]

46 minutes ago, Robert Stuart said:

Tried looking at this in both FireFox and MS Edge but can not see the images, only place holders

Hi Robert, just tried MS edge, pics display fine, suggest check your browsers (disk clean up) and refresh.

 

All the best Chris

[Robert Stuart]

7 minutes ago, whitestar12chris said:

Hi Robert, just tried MS edge, pics display fine, suggest check your browsers (disk clean up) and refresh.

 

All the best Chris

All OK now following a re-boot

Thanks

[theplasticsurgeon]

Unmasked Desert

 

Unmasked Europe.

 

And the look from above.

 

[Hook]

Quite fetching!

 

Cheers,

 

Andre