Iain Ogilvie Posted August 20, 2013 Posted August 20, 2013 Am sure many will have seen progress to date on my goal to correct the most glaring issues with Trumpeters 1:32 Lightning kits - but for any that haven't this is where we've got to. Please disregard the square top fin illustrated on the F Mk 3 and F Mk 6 - that's incorrect and is being re-done this week. There are other parts as well - such as tank fins - but gives a flavour of where I'm heading. Parts are 'blanks' at present - being shaped and test fitted. New spine looks curved in photos - but will be straight! F Mk 1A (note that I've taped it onto the F Mk 6 front end for speed - hence gap at front of belly section!): F Mk 3: F Mk 6: Iain 2
harvey boyer Posted August 20, 2013 Posted August 20, 2013 BEAUTIFUL ! When for the 6 ?..............harv
nmayhew Posted August 20, 2013 Posted August 20, 2013 Thanks for bringing this baby over to LSM The Lightning is one of the few projects I would step outside of WWII for. One thing I can't understand though is why the donor kit is still so pricey considering it's meant to be such a dog? Still hoping Luckymodel or someone will do a crazy sale on it... *sigh*
Dave J Posted August 20, 2013 Posted August 20, 2013 Looking great Iain... Is this going to be an AM Kit? I am not up to the play on the Trumpeter Lighting.. but it looks there are few issues with it!
nmayhew Posted August 21, 2013 Posted August 21, 2013 Believe so Dave, but I'll let 'da man' himself confirm Don't think we have any dates or prices yet...
Artful69 Posted August 21, 2013 Posted August 21, 2013 ... but it looks there are few issues with it! ... Dave ... A few would be an understatement according to those in the know ... the funny thing is ... I wouldn't have really noticed had they been not pointed out to me ... but once you set the original stamp up against Iains' re-worked bits - well ... Iains versions look faster just lying there!!! ... kinda like comparing a Messerschmitt Bf.109E to an F in shape variation - if you catch what I'm throwing?! Rog
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 21, 2013 Author Posted August 21, 2013 The full story so far can be found here... The canopy was the first thing that struck me - way out in side profile - and too wide in plan (it's such a distinctive shape). I spent a hell of a lot of time looking at photos, available drawings, the Airfix 1:48 kits and Frank Brown's excellent Echelon 1:32 vac kit before creating a new master in Milliput. This then led to a narrower/higher cockpit sill being needed - along with a shallower nose ring (externally) - longer internally to meet the moulded inlet ducting... Have had measuring tape out where possible on original airframes for items such as nose ring. Only way to make a 100% accurate model would be to start again - but I recon I can get it one hell of a lot closer to the look of the original. Oh - and completely new to pattern making - has taken a *lot* longer than I thought. In this last image you'll see early correction parts alongside the superb Echelon kit - which I know was created from manufacturers drawings (although I have found one or two minor errors with the Echelon kit): Then there were the belly tanks - too short/too bulbus in both versions... Then spine, tails, wings, undercarriage... Then, then, then - oh - you get the drift... Anyhoo - making some progress now - and, yes, hope to make available commercially at some point. Iain 1
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 22, 2013 Author Posted August 22, 2013 It seems that I can spend hours on this - and not a lot of progress! Fuselage keel has been straightened up again - and is just about ready for detail - as is the early belly tank. F6 tank has been reshaped in side elevation and now ready (finally) for me to add gun troughs and build up a little at the front. In picture news - a start made on a second go at the square top fin - a wedge has been removed from base (0 at front - approx 1.5 mm at base of rudder) to correct the angle at rear - and the top's been shortened a little. Next step, apart from correcting surface detail, is to add a wedge of plastic to leading edge (and fill that divit of an intake at base). Once done it will be the same shape/size/angles as the Echelon one. Alongside this the spine has been 'fitted' to the upper fuse curve and is being fine adjusted. Horizontal stab has been reshaped - and now looks like the real thing: More soon (maybe). Iain
Showtime 100 Posted August 22, 2013 Posted August 22, 2013 Wow; Talk about some serious man-hours......um.......I mean person-hours in your project!
Rizzo Posted August 23, 2013 Posted August 23, 2013 It seems that I can spend hours on this - and not a lot of progress! Seems to me like it's a lot of progress recently though? I have a 1/48 airfix version in the stash, but I'm waiting to see if this becomes available before I build it- I'd prefer a decent 1/32 kit if it's possible.
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 24, 2013 Author Posted August 24, 2013 OK - all day on Lightning stuff today - I need a break! More fettling on the fuselage underside for the early machines: And a little more on F Mk 6 belly: Blending canopy area and further shaping on spine and area immediately behind canopy: Now - in further news - there is a God! Ages ago I mentioned the flaps should be constant chord? Well - because taper made them *thinner* in plan I can fix with new resin flaps and simply cut back the flap openings in the wings a little. Original top, my rough shape below: And the fin - getting there! There will be a further strip added to base: Night all! Iain
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 25, 2013 Author Posted August 25, 2013 BTW - if anyone's wondering what those horizontal lines are on the fin - that's just me filling horizontal surface detail as it was no longer horizontal after rotating the fin back a few degrees. Oh - and shape is distorted there because of position of camera lens/distortion. Now - do I try and match Trumpeters 'rivets' - or go smoother - more prototypical - and leave builder to fill divots in rest of kit? The latter's the way I'm heading at present - but feedback welcomed! Have fun! Iain
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 25, 2013 Author Posted August 25, 2013 For anyone interested - this is what I'm thinking in terms of breakdown of individual parts availability - and 'complete' sets - thoughts/input appreciated! Absolutely no idea re. prices/availability yet - but once I have the base patterns complete I will post here and elsewhere asking to get an idea of interest (not commitment) so I have a rough idea of volumes before casting - and, therefore, a reasonably accurate idea of costs! But progress is now up a gear! Iain EDIT - there's the F/R probe, gun ports and F3 vents to be added - and the belly tanks probably need to be available separately... 2
nmayhew Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 hi i like the parts breakdown / various options provided regarding matching the surface / rivet detail of the kit, i think from a commercial point of view - and what i would definitely prefer as a modeller - it would be much better if you just match the detail on the kit that way, at least a modeller has the option of just plug and play / cut and fit with your parts, without having to re-rivet the whole thing (uber tedious) and for those mega accuracy nuts, well chances are they would be re-riveting the whole thing anyway does that make sense? kind regards Nick 2
Rizzo Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 I'd much prefer the rivets to be added- for the exact reasons Nick gives above (I quite like the rivet detail myself, and would hate having to add it all in)
Showtime 100 Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 For anyone interested - this is what I'm thinking in terms of breakdown of individual parts availability - and 'complete' sets - thoughts/input appreciated! Absolutely no idea re. prices/availability yet - but once I have the base patterns complete I will post here and elsewhere asking to get an idea of interest (not commitment) so I have a rough idea of volumes before casting - and, therefore, a reasonably accurate idea of costs! But progress is now up a gear! Iain EDIT - there's the F/R probe, gun ports and F3 vents to be added - and the belly tanks probably need to be available separately... Happy anniversary (Thread) ! I'll be interested in a complete kit/package/set whenever you start producing them. Is it possible for you to post a pic of what Lightning variations you'll be producing? I know nothing about the plane other than I want to build one with a 'British dark two-tone camo' like this badboy:
Iain Ogilvie Posted August 26, 2013 Author Posted August 26, 2013 That's an F Mk 6 - with ventral gunpack - some of the set shown here: Iain
James Posted September 30, 2019 Posted September 30, 2019 Hi Iain, Just wondering if you are selling the Lightning F Mk6 correction set, and whether or not I can buy one! James
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