71chally Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Looks just so to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share Posted February 19, 2020 Before the fuselage halves can be joined the intake and exhaust sub-assemblies need to be completed. The Eduard photo etch contains replacements for the kit thrust petals which need to be folded to shape, the plastic part removed and the PE part used in its place. UMP/Stynylrez black primer was applied… …and the a coat of vallejo 77.723 exhaust manifold. These were then lightly dry-brushed with vallejo 77.717 dull aluminium. The air inlet compressor fan and turbines were given a coat of vallejo 77.717 dull aluminium or 77.723 exhaust manifold. The front wheel well and exhaust pipes were also painted. Both were treated with Tamiya black panel line. The exhaust sub-assembly completed. Dry-fitted I had intended to complete the radome/intake sub-assembly however, Airfix suggests that 20g of weight are needed to stop the model being a ‘tail-sitter’. I’ve searched high and low but I just can’t find my fishing “leads” so I’ve had to order some more. Next I’ll be finishing the radome/intake sub-assembly and joining the fuselage halves. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray S Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 John, this is great work on my favouritist favourite of my favourite aircraft! I gawped in awe as the Lightnings took off from Leuchars and went vertical right above my house! As a 15-year-old, they made some huge impression! I have a couple of these in the stash, and I think one may have just leapt to the top of the pile! Look forward to seeing more progress, Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share Posted February 19, 2020 1 minute ago, Ray S said: John, this is great work on my favouritist favourite of my favourite aircraft! I gawped in awe as the Lightnings took off from Leuchars and went vertical right above my house! As a 15-year-old, they made some huge impression! I have a couple of these in the stash, and I think one may have just leapt to the top of the pile! Look forward to seeing more progress, Ray thanks Ray one of my abiding memories is attending an air-show, probably Farnborough but for some reason I think it could have been Biggin Hill, watching the Lightning streak just above the runway and then suddenly pivoting 90 degrees and going straight up like a rocket, quite a sight. rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 Once the fishing “lead” weights arrived I weighed 20g and filled the radome/air intake and sealed them in with white PVA glue. The radome was then fitted to the air intake and given a coat of UMP/Stynylrez black primer and then the radome was painted Tamiya XF-62 olive drab… …and intake section was given a coat of vallejo 77.717. Once the aluminium colour had fully cured the radome sub-assembly was fitted to the intake tube and the various sub-assemblies, cockpit, intake and jet exhausts were fitted to the fuselage… Instrument cowling and gun sight added had PE added… …which was given a coat of UMP/Stynylrez black primer and dry-brushed with Tamiya XF-24 dark grey and then lightly dry-brushed with vallejo 77.717. Gun site attached. Airfix supply the gun sight with solid plastic sights, this was removed and will be replaced with a small piece of astatate later in the build as I know I'd knock it off and feed the carpet monster with it if I fitted it now. The rear of the seat/canopy mechanism was added, note a cable is to be fitted between the canopy and deck later in the build. Next I’ll be making a start on the wings. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(ex)Sgtrafman Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Looking very good John, very good indeed. Keep up the good work buddy. Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 When the jets were out on the line there was only seven RBF flag (five on the pitot probe alone) the other two were The hook lock only on F6's (and F2a's) and one in the Stbd Wheel bay a long one hung down the D-door this was from the MASB key (Master Armaments Safety Break). the last thing removed before the jet taxi. The Area next to the Reheat pipes were polished metal link the intake ring. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 41 minutes ago, tweeky said: When the jets were out on the line there was only seven RBF flag (five on the pitot probe alone) the other two were The hook lock only on F6's (and F2a's) and one in the Stbd Wheel bay a long one hung down the D-door this was from the MASB key (Master Armaments Safety Break). the last thing removed before the jet taxi. The Area next to the Reheat pipes were polished metal link the intake ring. thanks tweeky, that's just the detail I needed, I'm not sure I'm going to use the RBF flags/ribbons as lesthegringo suggested that they are too long, scale 55", perhaps the MASB should be this length and the pitot probe shorter? I had planned on making the reheat pipe "fixings" the same as the intake ring, it was easier to spray them all the same colour initially. rgds John(shortCummins) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 The Masb key flag was a couple of feet long tbh. Also the style you've chosen were few and far between we used to remove these and throw then we had the red with silver reflective diagonal stripes on them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 8 hours ago, tweeky said: The Masb key flag was a couple of feet long tbh. Also the style you've chosen were few and far between we used to remove these and throw then we had the red with silver reflective diagonal stripes on them. thanks tweeky it sounds as if the Eduard PE RBF flags/ribbons will have to be used for another project rgds John(shortCummins) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 I started by adding PE to the wing wheel wells. I’m not sure these will be visible once the wings are fitted to the fuselage? The wings were made up from 5 pieces. Next I’ll be adding the wings, tail and other bits’n’pieces to the fuselage. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingTiger435 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Amazing work so far! I have a few images of the wheel well if you need them, from the EE Lightning F.53 ZF583, they're not perfect but could be of use. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 30 minutes ago, KingTiger435 said: Amazing work so far! I have a few images of the wheel well if you need them, from the EE Lightning F.53 ZF583, they're not perfect but could be of use. yes please, they do look empty at the moment. rgds John(shortCummins) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 The PE in the wheel wells looks good, I remember Airwaves doing some many years ago, and it didn’t fit! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Quote EE Lightning F.53 ZF583, export version of the Mk 3 even tho it has the big ventral tank and the F6 wing. these my help to https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/72304-english-electric-lightning-single-seat/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 21 hours ago, tweeky said: The Masb key flag was a couple of feet long tbh. Also the style you've chosen were few and far between we used to remove these and throw then we had the red with silver reflective diagonal stripes on them. Hi tweeky is this the sort of thing? rgds John(shortCummins) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Quote is this the sort of thing? That's the very flag. The Nose and main undercarriage ground locks were removed once jets were towed out in the morning and refitted before towing them in at cease flying. The only other time they'd be fitted was if the jet had landed on an emergency state 2 (state 1 was usually a crash or the like) the firemen fitted them. When I moved on to Tornado's the ground locks were fitted at all times and only removed when "walking round" with the Jockey (pilot). There's a good pic in the walk round section on the STBD side. on the D-Door (the main cover that covers the wheel when the gears up) you'll see a inverted red triangle (like the Ejection seat one) that's where the flag would hang. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/English_Electric_Lightning_F6%2C_UK_-_Air_Force_AN1046911.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 @tweeky, sorry if I’m being thick, would the MASB pin be in on a QRA jet? I assume that pitot covers would be off but the thought of a Red Top or Firestreak being inadvertently launched whilst the jet was still in the HAS doesn’t bear thinking about. Assuming that it was in one of the ground crew would have to dive in and withdraw it immediately before the jet started to move, or am I barking up the very wrong tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 The fuselage seams needed a little bit of work due to operator error? rather than the kit. They were first sanded and then I used Mr Dissolved Putty to fill the gaps. A second go with the Mr Putty seamed (see what I did there?) a good idea… I’ll have a better idea once a coat of primer goes on. These were then sanded, any additional work needed, re-scribing etc., will be carried out once the wings and other bits’n’bobs have been attached. The machine guns and intake ring, some work will be needed on that join, or lack of. Lower panels were also added. Some of the panels depicted by Airfix are a little ‘soft’ and this one may or may not be accurate? I’ll decide later if I should re-scribe or polish it out. I’ve decided to keep the air-brakes closed, the fit of these could be better. The rear stabiliser/rudder was nailed on. Next I’ll be adding the windscreen and canopy, act as temporary masks and then giving an initial coat of primer to check what work need doing on the fuselage seams before attaching the wings. I think it’ll be easier to “fix” any seam issues before the wings are fitted as the model will be easier to handle. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 (edited) The MASBY was the last safety device to be removed it allowed the armament to be made live both missiles and guns. SO it was the first thing refitted when as jet taxied back in too. In fact when live firing ether systems the MASBY was taken out at the end of the runway (usually on the ORP). When on a generation Exercise once the jets had been checked in with the fighter controllers (i.e Cockpit readiness) the MASBY was the only safety devicefitted. As for QRA the blanks would be all off, ground locks were out the only two items om the jet was the MASBY and the port missile "noddy" cap this was removed once the ladder was removed for obvious reasons. Beleve me I've done a couple (one at 2am) of QRA scrambles and its all about getting the jet in the air as fast as possible. As for hectic it was more of a choregraphed action everybody knew what was happening and who was in charge of the jet prior to taxi the two guys doing the started crew, Man A was up the ladder, Man B did the power set once the engine were up and running it was back up the ladder man A tells man B to chop and disconnect the power cables, man A watched the canopy come down and lock (also watches the restrictor cable on top of the seat) then down the ladder, ladder off noddy cap off mean while man B was round the other side of the jet waiting for the remove signal for the MASBY show it to the jockey and then watch the jet out of the shed..... man A was out the front marshalling the jet out there was a trough that the nose when sat in to guide the jet out...……………. final check over as the engines were spooling up to max and the as he was approaching the runway full reheat and...……………….gone The QRA sheds ( no HAS corrugated tin condtruction) at Binbrook pointed directly at one of the crash gates. The last thing the RAF needed was a missile or HE/Tracer or amour piercing rounds hitting the beloved "Spotters" Edited February 26, 2020 by tweeky additional info 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Whilst I agree with @tweeky about those being the right sort of RBF flag for when he worked on Lightnings, I don't think they're right for a 1960's jet, more likely to be the red flags bearing the legend REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT in white. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingTiger435 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Here they are, as promised! She's in a bit of a poor condition but I hope they help. Here's a full picture of ZF583 just for the fun of it. I think a bird lives in her, which is... Interesting? I took the pictures at Solway Aviation Museum 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingTiger435 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 I won't quote it because it's a long message, but, I'm definitely saving those seat images that you posted earlier (ShortCummins), those are some excellent references! I have to make scratchbuild seatbelts for my 1:72. This'll be interesting... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Quote RBF flag for when he worked on Lightning's, I don't think they're right for a 1960's 80-85 is when I was on type and believe me we were getting stuff from stores with the red pennant on (plain red no BRF written on it) taking the red one off and fitting the red with reflective stripes to whet ever had arrived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 27 minutes ago, tweeky said: 80-85 is when I was on type and believe me we were getting stuff from stores with the red pennant on (plain red no BRF written on it) taking the red one off and fitting the red with reflective stripes to whet ever had arrived. But as John is making an earlier jet, he wouldn't have had one with the reflective strip, they weren't introduced until the late 70's/early 80's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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