Trumpy 1/32 Lightning F6 fix!

[Fmk.6john]

Andy,

The review for the interior set is very helpful but (dons rivet counters hat!), the set is only good for the F.3 and F.6 variants and nothing else, the F.2A interior was re done in grey but was only partially fitted out with the OR946 (IFIS) system, this differed from the F.3/6 enough to render the etch incorrect.

The exterior set looks usefull though, it does also strike me that etch seems very expensive for what you get, why is this?.

Regards,

JB.

P.S. Nice work so far Bill!!.

[avro683]

I reviewed the interior zoom set and exterior set on Modeling Madness:

Interior: http://www.modelingmadness.com/others/deta...s/abed33031.htm

Exterior: http://www.modelingmadness.com/others/deta...s/abed32227.htm

Shorter version: the exterior set is very useful, the interior set, not so much.

Andy

Thanks for the link to the reviews Andy. They are very informitive and like you I feel the exterior set will be more useful. One thing, you are correct that while the cockpit colour grey is wrong for the earlier F1 it is correct for the F3. Another vital extra for the F3 model is the Heritage Aviation refuelling probe which was fitted as far as I am aware to all F3 airgraft.

Tony

[AAbshier]

Andy,

The review for the interior set is very helpful but (dons rivet counters hat!), the set is only good for the F.3 and F.6 variants and nothing else, the F.2A interior was re done in grey but was only partially fitted out with the OR946 (IFIS) system, this differed from the F.3/6 enough to render the etch incorrect.

The exterior set looks usefull though, it does also strike me that etch seems very expensive for what you get, why is this?.

I'm not sure what the situation is in Europe, but I know we in the United States are getting killed on the Euro-to-dollar exchange rate. I was all set to buy a PJ Productions Alpha Jet until I ran the numbers and discovered that my price would be US$140.00 shipped.

Andy

[AAbshier]

Thanks for the link to the reviews Andy. They are very informitive and like you I feel the exterior set will be more useful. One thing, you are correct that while the cockpit colour grey is wrong for the earlier F1 it is correct for the F3. Another vital extra for the F3 model is the Heritage Aviation refuelling probe which was fitted as far as I am aware to all F3 airgraft.

Tony

I have a modeler friend sending me an unused F-100 straight probe that I may try to adapt for the Lightning. That said, I have a photo of my subject (74 Sqn) aircraft in flight without a refueling probe, so building mine without will be accurate, at least for that particular moment in time!

Andy

[avro683]

I have a modeler friend sending me an unused F-100 straight probe that I may try to adapt for the Lightning. That said, I have a photo of my subject (74 Sqn) aircraft in flight without a refueling probe, so building mine without will be accurate, at least for that particular moment in time!

Andy

That'll save a few quid!

Tony

[AnonymousAA72]

Getting to the stage where I'm going to have to start tackling the wings.....

BUT for the moment - here's where I am with the fuselage.

Almost (but not quite) there.

Nose section - you can see where I've rescribed here. Also The nose ring has been reduced in depth!

If anyone of you are brave enough to tackle this kit, and even if you make no other modification - this is a MUST!!!

Three views of the fin modification, the rear extension is evident

Also, you can see how I've amended the intake on the fin's leading edge. Some plastic tube and milliput reduced the hole.

I've also moved the fin forward. The angle of the fin and spine should be inline with the airbrake.

Next phase will be a bit of cleaning up, add the various antennae/fuel dumps spine intake, AC Beacon and maybe the modified strakes.

Then mask the cockpit and get the Halford's out!!

Then the wings!!!!!

[AnonymousAA72]

As its a bit quiet - everyone having buggered off to Telford - I thought I'd get cracking on the wings.. Now overall they don't look that bad - the plan view looks quite accurate - which is nice! Downside is that the wheel wells are in the wrong place and are the wrong shape - luckily though it seems that the gear location point is in the correct place.

Additionally - The Lightning wing - particularly the F2a/F6 kinked wing had a very complicated shape - viewed from the front and the rear Airfix's 1/48th kits can be built to represent this - as can Trumpeter's- I hope!!

Visible here is the extent of the problem - I've highlighted the areas that will need removing - you can see where the doors should be from the drawing below.

I've added internal plastic card formers to correct the shape of the aperture - I'll tidy this up later with more plastic card and milliput

The gear bay itself is too long. I've separated the wheel bay from the gear bay -

Compare this to the picture above and you can see I've removed a couple of mm from the gear bay

And internally - the now two part bay is re-united!

Next stage is to tidy everything up - milliput, prime and deal with the divots and try to bend the wing leading edge into shape!!

[Skii]

Brilliant stuff Bill, you are really bringing this kit up to scratch

[AAbshier]

As its a bit quiet - everyone having buggered off to Telford - I thought I'd get cracking on the wings.. Now overall they don't look that bad - the plan view looks quite accurate - which is nice! Downside is that the wheel wells are in the wrong place and are the wrong shape - luckily though it seems that the gear location point is in the correct place.

Additionally - The Lightning wing - particularly the F2a/F6 kinked wing had a very complicated shape - viewed from the front and the rear Airfix's 1/48th kits can be built to represent this - as can Trumpeter's- I hope!!

So of course you show us this AFTER I assembled my wings with the stock wheel bays. On the other hand, since Trumpy molded the struts too long, I could have figured out that the resultant wheel bays would be too long also. Oh well!

Since I"m doing the F3, I have no leading edge problem. Trumpeter's plastic bends pretty easily, so I suspect you'll be able to get the F6 camber without too much trouble.

Andy

[bigbadbadge]

Crikey Bill that's some work you are doing there, looking fab though. Can't wait to see this one complete.

All the best

Chris

[zero]

Bill I have decided your a very sad man, with far to much time on your hands LOL

Mate, this is turning in to an awesome build and correction Journal for the trumpeter kits, I just have to keep coming back to see what you have corrected Next.

Awesome work mate, Can't wait to see the finished result, and it would be great to see this one side by side with a out of the box build.

Dave

[AnonymousAA72]

Trumpeter's plastic bends pretty easily, so I suspect you'll be able to get the F6 camber without too much trouble.

Andy

Don't you beleive it Andy! The plastic IS very pliable - but its almost rubbery - in that it bends itself BACK to its original position! Luclily Trumpy haven't done that bad a job on the camber, but its the kink they've missed. I'll post some pic's tomorrow - but both wings are built - I need to sand down the milliput used to fill the gaps around the wheel wells.....

Bill I have decided your a very sad man, with far to much time on your hands LOL

Mate, this is turning in to an awesome build and correction Journal for the trumpeter kits, I just have to keep coming back to see what you have corrected Next.

Awesome work mate, Can't wait to see the finished result, and it would be great to see this one side by side with a out of the box build.

Dave

Cheers Dave - my follow up will be a Phantom FGR2 in 1/32nd........

Crikey Bill that's some work you are doing there, looking fab though. Can't wait to see this one complete.

All the best

Chris

Cheers Chris

[AAbshier]

Have you decided on a color scheme for your F6? It looked like you were knocking around some gray airplanes or the Saudi camo'd aircraft (which WOF's article says didn't fly).

I'd dare you to do yours in NMF, but you have way more Milluput on the outside of yours than mine.

Andy

[AnonymousAA72]

Have you decided on a color scheme for your F6? It looked like you were knocking around some gray airplanes or the Saudi camo'd aircraft (which WOF's article says didn't fly).

I'd dare you to do yours in NMF, but you have way more Milluput on the outside of yours than mine.

Andy

Ha, I had actually planned on NMF finished XR753/"A" of 23 Sqn with white spine/fin. that depends on how well I prime the model!!! Plan B would be XR770/"AA" of 5 Sqn in Barley Grey and Signal Red or Plan C XR754/"BC" of 11 Sqn in MS/Barley/LAC Grey - as it has "my" initials on the fin!!

We shall see!!!!

Edited November 9, 2009 by Bill Clark

[zero]

Cheers Dave - my follow up will be a Phantom FGR2 in 1/32nd........

LOL I knew you were not Joking, I'll be waiting to see that one, but I got time to see this beauty finished first!!!.

Keep up the great work Bill, it's looking superb!!

Dave

[Smiffy]

I'm really enjoying this thread.

After seeing the initial pics and reviews when this kit was released, I had decided against getting one of these, but I have to admit I'm tempted to get the F.1A/F.3 kit now (and it's all your fault, Bill ).

[AAbshier]

I'm really enjoying this thread.

After seeing the initial pics and reviews when this kit was released, I had decided against getting one of these, but I have to admit I'm tempted to get the F.1A/F.3 kit now (and it's all your fault, Bill ).

Thanks for NOT blaming me--I'm the guy with an F3 in progress right now! :-)

Andy

[AnonymousAA72]

I'm really enjoying this thread.

After seeing the initial pics and reviews when this kit was released, I had decided against getting one of these, but I have to admit I'm tempted to get the F.1A/F.3 kit now (and it's all your fault, Bill ).

oops!! Sorry Paul!! Thing is though it can be built OOB - and it will still LOOK like a Lightning - its just I'm a bit "anal" when it comes to Lightnings!!

Anyway here's where I am with the build...

Dealing with the strakes - Trumpeter's are wrong in shape - easy enough to correct though. Also notable here is how much higher they are up the tank at the front!

And another thing....rivets!! They are fairly apparent on the real strake - however Trumpeters rivets are in the wrong place a- and there's not enough of them.......ooops Counting rivets again!!!

The wings _ I've tried to introduce the leading edge kinks that are so very apparent on the real thing. Problem is the plastic is quite "Rubbery" so you bend it one way, and it simply bends back to where it started from!!!

Wings have been "clipped" in place

[bexwh773]

Flippin eck Bill,

Just caught up with this one, and I cant wait to see this one finished and in the plastic. I knew roughly Trumpy had buggered it up, but I didnt realise they were THAT far out

Bexy

[AAbshier]

Flippin eck Bill,

Just caught up with this one, and I cant wait to see this one finished and in the plastic. I knew roughly Trumpy had buggered it up, but I didnt realise they were THAT far out

Bexy

You should see what they did to the ventral tank on the F3--too short, too bulbous, and too low! I didn't fix mine, but a real anal Lightning builder is probably stuck with stretching the fuselage and rebuilding the tank. I'm building mine for a review, so I can't take the time to do the major rebuild.

Andy

[AAbshier]

Wings have been "clipped" in place

Does it look like you'll get a good join on the wings without internal bracing in the fuselage? What about sagging or bending upwards? I'm very happy I put the bulkheads in mine, but if you think the model will be OK without, I want to mention that in my build review.

Andy

[AnonymousAA72]

Does it look like you'll get a good join on the wings without internal bracing in the fuselage? What about sagging or bending upwards? I'm very happy I put the bulkheads in mine, but if you think the model will be OK without, I want to mention that in my build review.

Andy

I hope to have the wings on tonight Andy, so I'll let you know. Problem I had was that Trumpeter's wings were far too straight they need some anhedral so a shim of plastic card will be required on the upper wing to provide this. They will need to be fixed and I wished I'd put in an additional bulkhead - but from what I've seen thus far I doubt if there will be that much of a problem!

[AnonymousAA72]

You should see what they did to the ventral tank on the F3--too short, too bulbous, and too low! I didn't fix mine, but a real anal Lightning builder is probably stuck with stretching the fuselage and rebuilding the tank. I'm building mine for a review, so I can't take the time to do the major rebuild.

Andy

I plan on doing an F2 next - probably not for a few months though!! And as I qualify as that "anal Lightning builder" maybe we'll see then whats involved in stretching and reducing the tank then, and streching the fuselage .....

[AnonymousAA72]

Blimey!!! Not much progress over the last two weeks!!! So here's an update...

Serious problems with the wings! Not surprisingly Trumpeter have well and truly screwed this one!!! Apart from the undercarriage bay issues high-lighted previously, they've totally missed the wing shape - on the leading edge - the real wing kinks in two distinct places AND if you stick the wings on as they are they have no anhedral whatsover!!

Lightning wings? Not as we knew them!!

So yet more surgery....

I managed to bend the starboard wing sufficiently...the inner kink is visible. I've also added a thin plastic card spacer on the wing mounting edge to provide the initial droopy angle...

Both wings on - still not 100% right - some more teasing into place required...

..OOPS!! The Port wing was very reluctant to retain its new "bent" shape(?) - eventually the portion being bent - snapped!!!

You can see the initial repair job here...

The plastic rod sprues I inserted did help.

As noted elsewhere on the other builds - Trumpeters plastic is very soft - one of the reasons the wing snapped - its almost rubbery!!! However since these pic's were taken I've filled and sanded the gaps - plenty of MekPak and then Superglue - the joints are as solid as a solid champion in the solid world cup - help in Solid City!!

So...next job will be to ensure the surface is good enough for alclad...........

Edited November 24, 2009 by Bill Clark

[AAbshier]

Now I know one thing I'm thankful for on this upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving holiday: that Stevens Int'l sent me the F1A/F3 to review instead of the F6! Holy crap.....the wings are wrong also? No one could have predicted that Trumpeter would have blown it on this airplane.

So...next job will be to ensure the surface is good enough for alclad...........

You're going for NMF? What squadron? I just got Alclad on my wings and horizontal stabilizers, so I beat you to it. Of course, I have non-cambered leading edges and I kept my wheel wells at stock length, so I saved myself some time!

Andy