BAC Lightning F Mk. 6 Fly model in 1/33

[Isaac]

Preface.


This is one of those unusual aircraft that was designed for a purpose and looks like it. It was a product of the late 40's and early 50's requirements in which the envelope was stretched to new limits previously unknown due to the power of the jet engine. It was also a time of great experimentation. Lots of research money was available and many companies built different types.

One such company was English Electric. They built a prototype that resembles the final product. Highly swept back wings, nose intake for the engines and top and bottom engine layout. This engine layout made for a flat sided cross section ( really was not adopted by other subsequent designs primarily due to the special tooling and access issues to the engines).


English Electric like other aviation companies was absorbed into the British Aircraft Corporation ( BAC )

For a bit of more info, here is the Wikipedia link :

English Electric Lightning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


My interest:

I always liked unusual jet aircraft. All the way from the early type ( I just finished the Gloster G.40 Pioneer

Gloster Pioneer G.40 Orlik in 1/33


). The early Mach 1 plus jets were fascinating and this one is certainly one of them.


Other builds:

I was inspired by seeing the many builds of this one on many forums :

Kartonist.de | Abgeschlossene Bauberichte | BAC Lightning F MK6, FLY-Model 146, 1:33

http://www.kartonbau.de/forum/fertig...n/t16609-f161/

Fly Model BAC Lightning F Mk 6 Build Log #146

BAC Lightning f mk6

Completed!!!


As you can see, lots of good builds. Therefore, I am not sure I can offer anything but my own perspective of this build.


The kit:

This is a Fly model design number 146 in 1/33 scale. It comes in the usual very large format ( A3 paper size ) for that company.





Paper size of A3 is:

297 × 420 mm
or
11.69 × 16.54 inches

It is printed nicely and has nice coloring that gives it an airbrushed look.

There are :
5 pages of parts
4 pages of sketches and drawings
4 pages of frames.

Also, you get one sheet of card stock ( which is the backing of this booklet ).


A caution note:
This is one of those complex kits with so many parts that begs the question " what the $%%^^&* possessed me to build it ". The answer, is that it was time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

What can you do to make it more fun?

For me the most important item was to purchase the laser cut frames. Those are really crisp and precise frames that make most of that aspect a breeze. I was following the other builds ( noted above ) and was determined not to cut my own. It is madness to cut your own ( there are literally hundreds of parts ).



The second item was to purchase the vacuformed canopy
The third item was to get the wood wheels.



So now, I am ready to build.




This may take a while since there are lots of parts. One decision that I made is not to build the separate speed brakes, ailerons, rudders, flaps that are provided. My reasoning is that I wanted to show the plane in a clean configuration ( It will be on its landing gear though ).


Thanks


Isaac

[OSTOJA]

Good luck.

[RunwayOneSixRight]

I wish you the best of luck on this model!

-RunwayOneSixRight

[Dancooper]

Good luck building in what in my eyes is one of the most ugly airplanes ever designed, but that is of course my opnion. :D

[Tim Crowe]

Looking forward to this build

Tim

[SJPONeill]

This is going to be GOOD!!

[Isaac]

I visited Warner Robbins airbase museum a few years ago ( located in the state of Georgia in the USA ) . Among the many aircraft they have on display was this BAC Lightning.


Here are some pictures I took of it











Building the model will start soon.


Isaac

[herky]

the story was with the lightning that if they ever took them to full power they would literally throw away the fuselage on return and fit a new one round the engine

[nighthawk78]

Looking forward to this build...
I agree cutting out all the former's for this plane takes ages!!! It's good you got the laser cut frames, it saves a lot of effort.
Also where did you get the canopy/wheels from?
NH78

[scissorsandplanes]

Isn't it a beautiful beast ?
Like to see the result (and progress)
S&P