John Wolstenholme Posted February 2, 2008 Author Share Posted February 2, 2008 (edited) and tanks painted etc. Need to tone down the wash to panels in pylons. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/50a.jpg To add/enhance the detail of the circular panels, 5 thou card discs were applied, then rubbed down with W&D to a just perceptible thickness. This allowed a wash to highlight edge. Needle type scriber did not work well on soft vacform plastic, plus the difficulty of using a template on small curved surfaces. The BIN OW nos have to be made up from individual letters/numbers; not included in decals. Checked the fore/aft alignment of o/w tanks relative to MLG; spot on by FB. CUL John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 (edited) Hi there. Patience is high, but resolve is a little lacking at the moment. However, the time has come to grasp the nettle, so here is phase1 of the cunning plan. Prior to cockpit tub construction I decided to form windscreen, canopy and new canopy sill/bulkhead rim; the tub will then be sized to maintain proper canopy fit. Vac-forming of the fuselage halves produces significant roundness in the cockpit area. #1 Bulkhead rim and canopy sill edges need to be angular. #2 Front edges of canopy seating should be rounded, not angular. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/46.jpg #1 Marked the sills/bulkhead rim with a black marker for reference, then sanded the inside until line almost disappeared. #2 0.25 card cut to shape (oversize), then in halves with sellotape ‘spacer’ to prevent halves sticking together. #3 Reformed to be angled, not rounded. #4 0.25 card piece cut to shape (oversize). The ‘seating’ surfaces were filed as necessary to receive new sill and ensure good fit to canopy inner frame. Filled/sanded to produce angled outer edge; still to sand inside for correct sill width. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/51a.jpg At least no disasters yet! BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Waouh! amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaziiiiiiiiiiiiiing build! Love the seat! the bays!.... keep the goob job! bye Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 (edited) Hi rom, always appreciate the interest and support. Not a lot of progress, somewhat lacking in energy and concentration just lately! Anyhow got the canopy/sills almost finished - still to sort windscreen seating to complete phase 1 of the plan. #1 Inner frame and transparency taped together with small pieces of Scotch tape and sanded whilst constantly checking against fuselage halves taped together. Unlike the canopy, you also have to thin the windscreen frame to the outside, to get it to fit. #2 White metal ‘canopy hinge’ thinned to ~1/2 thickness on the outside; otherwise it sits too recessed in fuselage; also thinned to inside when fixed to inner frame. #3 Scratch detailing plus some F/Path PE. A - front part of frame formed from 0.25 card, PE wrong size and shape. B - some F/Path PE can be used if it is cut to fit (or sections removed as canopy handle). This PE helps shaping the canopy frame to match the fuselage. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/52a.jpg As far as I am concerned most of the F/Path canopy PE if used will either result in a very poor fit, ruin the canopy/front windscreen, or both! Even after annealing, I could not achieve the bends that are required. And here in place almost ready for painting! http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/53b.jpg Jake, I've still got to face the dreaded bulkhead!! Until the next time. John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PapaSmurf630 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Jake, I’ve still got to face the dreaded bulkhead!! :huh: I'm sure you'll do a fine job of it. That canopy framing is simply spectacular! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
regevmo Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Good job on the canopy frames, its look very sharp. Regev. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) G'day fellow plastic nuts. Hi regevmo and Jake, I am very relieved with the way this has turned out (compare to original cockpit section) and that this particular ‘bit’ is behind me. In my ‘younger days’ if I wasn’t sure what to do, I would go ahead anyway, then usually regret it! Now I can wait! http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/54a.jpg So, finally to the completion of Phase 1, with the windscreen and canopy just placed. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/55a.jpg #1 Windscreen arch from 0.25mm card, sized for clear part. #2 My preferred method for ‘clear parts’ fixing is to polish canopy etc with Bare-Metal polish and fix with CA, after initial ‘tacking’ with a thin film of 5 min epoxy - applied to top of frame, well within the edges, to allow accurate fitting. The polish prevents fogging from CA fumes - you should first try this out on scrap materials. Now onto Phase 2 of the plan - the cockpit. Even if/when this falls short, at least I know I can finish the model, which I was not sure before completing the canopy/sill arrangement. BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
haneto Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Such a serious built!My hats off...... Will you build another 1/32 Lightning to be released by Trumpter this year(or at least as we hope)? That is really something called a Long project...... Cheers, Yufei Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gambler Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 John, that windscreen and canopy look absolutetly first class! Brilliant modelling. Cheers, Jeff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted March 14, 2008 Author Share Posted March 14, 2008 Will you build another 1/32 Lightning to be released by Trumpter this year(or at least as we hope)? Hello Yufei, November probably, but which year :huh: The other question is, will they get it right. Su-27, A-10, F-105…… Hi Jeff, thanks for your comments and continued interest – I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out as I had hoped. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted March 14, 2008 Author Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) ...and so to the 2nd phase of the plan. The new ‘sill’ to the cockpit aperture, formed in the canopy build, not only produced ‘square’ edges to fuselage, it also provides a raised rim (aft) for the canopy seal as on the real aircraft, when the new bulkhead is fitted behind it. The new cockpit tub will then be built up from this bulkhead. #1 New bulkhead formed from 0.5mm card. After cutting numerous card templates and a liberal dose of swearing, finally got a bulkhead which properly fitted inside fuselage, behind the ‘rim’. #2 Square section fixed to ensure snug fit of the bulkhead to rear of 0.25mm ‘rim’. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/56a.jpg The fun has just begun. BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 (edited) Hello again. No not given up, just very slow progress. Trying not to mess up the cockpit up is taking time! There must be an easier way, but I have not found it. There’s a lot to be said for building OOTB, but once you’ve start down this road there is no going back Also, been checking on XR724 AE. Opted to go with this when I found XS903 didn’t have o/w tanks fitted. Whilst XR724 did fly with o/w tanks, it seems these were not fitted until after Flt Lt Maclachlan left 5 Sq to join the Reds Arrows – sadly killed during winter training Jan 1988. So, not only is the pilot’s name wrong, there were o/w tanks fitted with both black and white stencilling. At the moment looks like the accurate thing to do will be to stick with the applied white stencilling and omit the pilot’s name. Thanks again to Hugh Trevor for his invaluable help. The F/Path tub is not completely useless, I used the floor! #1 Basic shape of the tub from card: floor and front bulkhead (0.75mm, over-sized and sanded to fit), rear bulkhead (0.5mm). #2 Packing pieces fitted to the intake so basic tub fits in exactly the right place on fuselage halves closure. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/57a.jpg #3 Over-sized stbd console shelf (0.5mm), sanded to an exact fit by constant checking. The aft in-fill (0.5mm) was sized and fitted with basic ‘tub’ in place. #4 Details formed from scrap resin; easier to shape than plastic card. #5 Small pieces of card positions seat centrally/fore/aft; instead of the ‘boxes’ used in the kit. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/58a.jpg Carry on rewardless. BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Dang John!!! I've been MIA for most of this!! Looks absolutly wonderful !!!! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
regevmo Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 John, i like the look of the tub, all shapes seems sharp and clean. Keep up the good work you are doing. Regev. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PapaSmurf630 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 That tub is looking incredibly clean and accurate. I'm especially liking the look of the foil floor. Cannot wait for further progress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phartycr0c Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Incredible work as usual John. Those tanks and cockpit are phenominal! Keep going! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 The work done so far looks very impressive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rjwood_uk Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 great work mate. you do indeed have a keen eye to detail. looks great! love the canopy. nicely done. Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 (edited) Hi Dave, Regev, Jake, Dave, RS, Richard et al. Always delighted to hear from you, keeps me motivated. Never in the field of scale modelling has so little been achieved by so few in so much time. Not a lot to show for a lot of hours of effort, but at least it is moving in the right direction. Looked at photos until I’m nearly cross-eyed and going daft. Hang on a minute, I’ll just see what these guys in white coats want. Now I definitively know that the port owt was black stencilling and stbd owt was white, plus the correct pilot’s name. Many thanks to Stewart ‘Birth of the Legend’ Scott. Two things which are very apparent with the Lightning cockpit - it is claustrophobically small and all the ‘gubbins’ behind the seat headbox. This is my attempt to replicate said gubbins, well the RHS for the moment. Detail added to the stbd wall before fitting the port wall, thereby giving better access. #1 Anti-G unit from 0.6mm solder and scrap plastic. #2 Switches unit. 11 No switches from 0.25 mm stretched sprue mounted on 0.25mm card. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/59a.jpg #1 Brackets from scrap resin. Formed ‘shaped’ piece, cut thin sections, then further thinned by rubbing on W&D. Using a piece of 1mm card, cut-out to width of bracket, enables alignment of 2no pieces for accurate drilling of remaining pieces relative to first. #2 Formed from scrap resin. Ducting can be bent to shape on warming in hot water. #3 Equipment box from 0.25mm card. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/60a.jpg BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PapaSmurf630 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Incredible work. Love the piping running up the back wall. Also like the brackets you've created. I cannot believe this is 1/32 scale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Yah, very nice ! I really like that bent resin duct. What a great idea for a non-straight, constant cross section part. Thanks, Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnnymac Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Wow. This is stunning work. Thank you so much for posting these pics! This model is going to be breathtaking when completed! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wolstenholme Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) G’day. Jake, Pete and John(ny) thanks for taking the time to come ‘on board’, glad you’re finding it of interest. I under estimated at the outset just how much scratch building there would be, but it was fortuitous that I cut my teeth on other aspects of this build before starting the cockpit. The earlier problem solving certainly helped prepare me for the cockpit. I think I must be losing it; spent 2 hours on the canopy jack (12 pieces) and actually enjoyed it! So, to the almost completed the rear bulkhead: #1 To construct the canopy jack, card template used to set canopy at correct angle, then an overall length of jack determined (~20mm) to achieve this angle. Jack from various sizes of rod, tubing, wire etc, lengths proportioned using a photo. http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jwolst/Lightning/61a.jpg BFN John Edited February 16, 2021 by John Wolstenholme a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timvkampen Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Amazing work. I can't wait to see the end result. What scheme will the bird get? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rjwood_uk Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 outstanding work. that plumbing is great!! the canopy actuator looks great!! Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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