English Electric Lightning T55/ FGR 1a

[Weaver]

I've never seen any real-life mention of Sidewinders on the wing pylons. The double MATRA pods had to be angled asymetrically relative to the pylon, presumably in order to clear the open u/c doors. The inboard one was near-vertical and the outboard one near-horizontal, so if it is possible to get two 'Winders on there, I suspect they'd have to be angled as well, probably using something like the twin-rail adaptors used on the Sea Harrier post-Falklands but more extreme. Alternatively, since the outboard pylon is quite deep, you could have one AIM-9 on the bottom of the pylon and one on the side of it, like an F-14 wing pylon.

I guess then maybe dispense with the fuselage rails, and adapt Tornado inner wing pylons - AIM-9 rail instead of a drop tank plus the regular GR1/GR4 Sidewinder rail (e.g. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/1alzaro/IMG_0430_zpskqwigwd0.jpg&key=294259056c5c7cb0309dc6acc3be0bdf9f1e9d594793b4cdebd4a171f2af5fa9)

That might work. Bear in mind however that the real F.50-odd wing pylons were sloped forwards quite a bit, I suspect for CofG and/or aeroelasticity reasons. propably the best scheme therefore would be to use the Alleycat pylons, with nicked or aftermarket AIM-9 rails mounted well forward on the pylon.

Rickshaw's point about drag is a good one too. If I wanted four Sidewinders on a Lightning, I'd be inclined to go for two on the original fuselage rails and two on the overwing pylons. If I wanted two drop tanks as well, I'd move the overwing Sidewinders to the outboard position on single rails: that way there are no draggy twin store adaptors involved. I'm not keen on the mid-belly-pack position for AIM-9s as their 'look-up' into a turn is blocked by the wing.

[kitbasher]

Have been matching up a battered Airfix Lightning this avo with various bits and pieces and the fuselage/wing load mix is what I'd decided on.  Thanks for the info, apologies for the minor thread hijack!

[chrisonord]

I have  had a good root through my  collection of  aim-9's,  and  couldn't find any  b model  types,  which  would  I  think would  suit the  time  frame  for  my  future  build.  So I  managed to find  a set of Eduard brassin aim-9b's , 4 of them in a set, and  they have  the  dreaded  P.E fore planes, so they  should be fun I  could  use one  pair on something else   in my 1960's  RAF  builds
Chris

[PR19_Kit]

But do you have access to an electron-microscope so you can glue those teeny-weeny fins onto the nose of the 'winders? 

[chrisonord]

 

But do you have access to an electron-microscope so you can glue those teeny-weeny fins onto the nose of the 'winders? 

I think I  will set out to deliberately  glue them to the tweezers,  and  trick them into  sticking to the  missiles.  Or get someone else to  glue them for me   
I can't  stand  pe on a good day,  and  I  know  that the fins will be the worst ever. Be reet.
Chris.

[Weaver]

But do you have access to an electron-microscope so you can glue those teeny-weeny fins onto the nose of the 'winders? 

I think I  will set out to deliberately  glue them to the tweezers,  and  trick them into  sticking to the  missiles.  Or get someone else to  glue them for me   
I can't  stand  pe on a good day,  and  I  know  that the fins will be the worst ever. Be reet.
Chris.

My approach would be to put CA on one piece and accelerator on the other, but since I've never actually done it, I can't swear that it'll work or not...

[PR19_Kit]

My approach would be to put CA on one piece and accelerator on the other, but since I've never actually done it, I can't swear that it'll work or not...

I've tried that a few times, with the result that the PE bit glued itself even MORE strongly to my fingers that it would have been otherwise. It's very difficult to apply the accelerator without getting a hint of it on you, and thereby lies the problem. 

[NARSES2]

My approach would be to put CA on one piece and accelerator on the other, but since I've never actually done it, I can't swear that it'll work or not...

The theory is fine, however sometimes in practice it grabs just a tad to quickly. Some of the "cheaper" glues can lose some of that instant grab after a while and strangely that can help with their application and use. The consistency of some of the new Loctite glue allows for some very precise application and they seem to have got the timings just about spot on for our use. However it's certainly a fresh blob of glue per part unlike the cheaper stuff.

[PR19_Kit]

My fave superglue is the Loctite gel glue with a rubberised add-on so it's not so brittle. It's pretty strong but I find it has a short self-life and needs to be used quite quickly. Keeping it in the fridge doesn't seem to have the usual shelf-life lengthening effect either.

[Gondor]

Alternativly speak nicly to someone who happens to have some of the Hasegawa 1/72 early sidewinders

Gondor

[chrisonord]

Hmm, who might  that be
Chris

[Gondor]

Hmm, who might  that be
Chris

Actually not me 

Sent so many to others that all I have spare is:

2 x AIM9-B's
2 x AIM9-E's  &
2 x AIM9-D's

Gondor

[chrisonord]

Haha,  I  have  some  from the  hasegawa sets but  none of them  look  like  aim-9 B's. I have  looked at  photos and recognition pictures,  but the nearest I have look out of scale,  hence  I  jumped out of the pan and  into the  fire.
Chris.

[Captain Canada]

Looking forward to seeing more of this one. Such an awesome beast of a machine. Thanks for posting pics of the weapons proposals....love it !

[kitnut617]

A couple more 'load-out' pics