Popular Post giemme Posted October 10, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2020 Hi everybody; here's my latest off the bench, after a lengthy build (what with COVID and lockdown and all? Incidentally, I got sick with it, albeit mildly, in mid march). Here's a summary of this project: KIT: Sword LIGHTNING T4/T5 AIRFRAME: EE Lightning T4, XM992, based at RAF Wattisham in the early 1960s MARKINGS: mostly kit decals, which are very thin and fragile. In fact, the yellow fin bands lost some fragments after I had applied and gloss coated them. Attempts to fix them with paint failed miserably, and I had to repaint the whole fin and rudder. Fellow BMers came to the rescue, namely Bill @perdu and Silvano @phantom61 who kindly donated Xtradecals stickers to complete the job (and save the build). Bill's provision is actually enough to build more shiny Lightnings, so one day ... PAINTS: Tamiya Gloss Aluminium, decanted from a rattle can and airbrushed, for most of the fuselage; other metallic hues from the AK Interactive Extreme Metal range (Steel and Chrome) and Model Master Metallizers; Tamiya Flat and Gloss Black for the upper fuselage, and various Lifecolor and Italeri acrylics for the interiors and the little diorama WEATHERING: usual black tempera wash and some Tamiya Smoke AFTERMARKETS: apart form the already mentioned Xtradecals stickers, the boarding ladders and FOD cover are from the dedicated FLIGHTPATH PE set, while the pilots and crews are PJ Productions, again kindly donated by @phantom61 SCRATCHBUILDING: ok let's see: - the kit contains a PE fret to detail the interiors and the outside too. The box is supposed to be for both a T4 and a T5 version, but the provided PE for the IP is only good for the latter, so I had to modify it to suit a T4. This was done by adding a few holes for the round style gauges rather than the digital indicators featured on the T5 - the two antennae right aft of the cockpit and the Venturi sensor, from steel rod, brass sheet and brass pipe - piping and lights inside the canopy, using various copper and solder wires, and thermoformed styrene sheet - canopy opening arm, from steel rod - main gears brake lines, again with copper wire - IP coaming, from brass sheet (the kit part was too narrow), and aiming devices (P.A.S.) from styrene and clear acetate - pitot pipe, from brass pipes, and its mount, from an Airfix Harrier refueling probe. This last part wasn't necessary, but it became so after I launched the almost completed model in a dive against my basement concrete floor ... - rudder position, by cutting it through the top and bottom lines and bending it slightly offset, to give a more dynamic look - the radome tip was reshaped, using some CA+flour mix - some of the NACA ducts, by scratch building a punch tool shaped accordingly, punching the shape into plastic sheet and blending it in the corresponding fuselage locations - diorama base, from an Ikea frame and some MDF wood - PEC connectors for the pilots, from brass pipe, copper wire and styrene sheet - chocks, from sprue and cotton thread The kit is a good short run type, without any mounting pegs and tabs and sporting some nice details, plus a complementary PE fret and resin seats and exhausts; it has a few fit issues, and some weak points like the non perfectly round air intake and the joint between the tail and the resin exhausts. Not an easy build (my first short run kit ever, anyway), but it was fun nontheless The WIP thread is here, in case anyone is interested: I cannot thank enough everyone who followed the build, gave advice, support and contributed with parts and valuable insights - this was a typical BM team build I wish tot thank in particular @perdu for the decals, @phantom61 for the PE ladders, the decals and the figures, @Biggles87 and @keefr22 for the hints on the pilots' uniforms, @71chally for the heads up on the airframe details ... I'm sure I'm missing someone, my apologies for that - you guys are a great bunch! On with the pics: Scratchbuilt NACA duct detail chocks and main gear I had to use the flash to photograph the cockpit details Exhausts (these are resin supplied with the kit) Some pics without the base The resin seats were also supplied with the kit Last one, the whole thing from the top All comments welcome Ciao 92 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Fantastic work Giorgio, the detail is absolutely incredible. All the extra bits and the ground crew etc are very well executed. Hard to believe that it's in 72nd. Well done and worth all those months of hard work! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Agree 100% with the above statement. If you reproduce any of the diorama photos in black and white with an airfield background they would be difficult to distinguish from a period photograph of the real thing. John PS: Thanks for the mention, it was a pleasure to be able to help. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyphbeta Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Absolutely fantastic, really great to see. I really like the groundcrew, ill have to try and get some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Not a minute wasted Giorgio. Every second of this journey has been a delight mate, thanks for giving me too much credit for a gift I would not have used any way. It looks a real treat on the diorama base, magnifico! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Absolutely superb! Mark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 An outstanding build! I'm most impressed by the detail of the ejection seats. No way I could do that. The diorama is superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Absolutely stunning. Is that your best build yet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 This is fantastic! A brilliant subject and some of those close-ups look like the real thing. Outstanding build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James G Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Very nice job, great diorama! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 That's a cracking Lightning. Fantastic job. I love the contrasting panels here and there..very nice. I've built a couple of Sword twin seaters myself and they take a little bit of extra work but do look the part. Great to see a T4 in arguably one of the finest of Lightning colour schemes of all time 👍👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Absolutely fantastic, all of it! Another Telford Gold (if there was one this year)!!! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Superb and a great diorama 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 One of the best 1/72 Lightnings I have seen, the diorama is also first class. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phone Phixer Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Absolutely stunning work. I truly doff my hat to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza l Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Absolutely brilliant work, your attention to detail is amazing. I've made a few Sword kits over the last few years and as you say the do require some extra work. gazza l 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Great to see her in RFI G. With the fun and games you had with her, its good to see her in her rightful place. Well done mate. Simon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 On 10/10/2020 at 13:38, 71chally said: Fantastic work Giorgio, the detail is absolutely incredible. All the extra bits and the ground crew etc are very well executed. Hard to believe that it's in 72nd. Well done and worth all those months of hard work! Thank you James, much appreciated! It certainly testes my patience along the way On 10/10/2020 at 14:14, Biggles87 said: Agree 100% with the above statement. If you reproduce any of the diorama photos in black and white with an airfield background they would be difficult to distinguish from a period photograph of the real thing. John PS: Thanks for the mention, it was a pleasure to be able to help. You mean like this: On 10/10/2020 at 14:45, perdu said: Not a minute wasted Giorgio. Every second of this journey has been a delight mate, thanks for giving me too much credit for a gift I would not have used any way. It looks a real treat on the diorama base, magnifico! Thank you Bill It is true though that you and Silvano saved my build, in full BM style On 10/10/2020 at 14:53, Harry Lime said: Absolutely superb! Mark. Thank you Mark On 10/10/2020 at 15:15, SAT69 said: An outstanding build! I'm most impressed by the detail of the ejection seats. No way I could do that. The diorama is superb. Thanks SAT69 The ejection seats are a mix of resin and PE as provided by the kit - outstanding detail from scratch On 10/10/2020 at 15:29, CedB said: Absolutely stunning. Is that your best build yet? Way too kind, Ced I don't think it's my best, I still favor SANDY-BAY BEE (the Phantom F-4C) and maybe a couple of others over it - but this is surely the one I captured better with photos, as I managed to snap them outside with natural light. It makes a great deal of difference IMO, especially for the non killed photographer that I am ... 23 hours ago, Lord Riot said: This is fantastic! A brilliant subject and some of those close-ups look like the real thing. Outstanding build. Thanl Lord Riot, glad you like her 20 hours ago, James G said: Very nice job, great diorama! Thank you James, I'm pretty chuffed about the diorama too 20 hours ago, binbrook87 said: That's a cracking Lightning. Fantastic job. I love the contrasting panels here and there..very nice. I've built a couple of Sword twin seaters myself and they take a little bit of extra work but do look the part. Great to see a T4 in arguably one of the finest of Lightning colour schemes of all time 👍👍 Thank you binbrook87 The color scheme captured me right away, actually. As for the contrasting panels, that's one thing I could have done better (less contrast) but ... lesson learnt for next time 19 hours ago, Lightningboy2000 said: Absolutely fantastic, all of it! Another Telford Gold (if there was one this year)!!! Martin VEry kind of you, Martin Let's hope in next year's edition of Telford - might be the time I'll finally be able to attend .... 19 hours ago, Head in the clouds. said: Superb and a great diorama Thanks Head in the clouds, much appreciated 19 hours ago, ColinChipmunkfan said: One of the best 1/72 Lightnings I have seen, the diorama is also first class. Thank you Colin She's still quite a big beast even at this scale 19 hours ago, Phone Phixer said: Absolutely stunning work. I truly doff my hat to you. Many thanks, PP 6 hours ago, gazza l said: Absolutely brilliant work, your attention to detail is amazing. I've made a few Sword kits over the last few years and as you say the do require some extra work. gazza l Thanks gazza I So you know what they are like, right? I bought their 1/48 RE2005 along with this, but I need some "regular" kit biulds before attempting another short run kit now ... 37 minutes ago, Spookytooth said: Great to see her in RFI G. With the fun and games you had with her, its good to see her in her rightful place. Well done mate. Simon. Cheers Simon, thank you for following along! It's been quite a fight (given also the self induced trouble ... ) but I'm glad I pulled this one over too Ciao 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom61 Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 great Job Giorgio... I'm proud of you 🤣🤣 ciao Silvano 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Just had a look through your Flickr build album. Interesting to see all your build thread through photos. I'm really going to have to get some of that MDF sheeting & make some proper bases, yours has inspired me! 👍 Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Smashing job indeed and nicely done diorama! Miguel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 What a beautiful result and oh, the memories, the memories! I had a look at my log books and unbelievably the last time I flew a T4 was a tad over 49 and a half years ago! (Sadly never 992), Thank you for a fascinating build thread and congrats on the finished article! Skip 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 4 hours ago, phantom61 said: great Job Giorgio... I'm proud of you 🤣🤣 ciao Silvano I'm proud of you too Kidding aside, thank yo very much for all your contributions to the build, and for giving me great directions about the diorama - following your lead there, Maestro! 4 hours ago, Mig88 said: Smashing job indeed and nicely done diorama! Miguel Gracias Miguel! 3 hours ago, Skip said: What a beautiful result and oh, the memories, the memories! I had a look at my log books and unbelievably the last time I flew a T4 was a tad over 49 and a half years ago! (Sadly never 992), Thank you for a fascinating build thread and congrats on the finished article! Skip Skip, I'm so glad you approve of my job! I hope the memories are mostly good Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basket Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Another superb model . Bravo Monsieur ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 A lot of hard work on your behalf but what a superb Lightning - she looks neat from normal viewing distance & the brave cockpit close ups look great under such close scrutiny - also like the couple of B/W photos you have added. CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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