Keeping It Simple - Vickers 588

[kitbasher]

Around 1959-1960, as a means of exploring the use of variable geometry (VG) wings on combat aircraft Vickers drew up a VG research aircraft conversion of the EE Lightning (having originally suggested a conversion of the Swift - now there's a whif!), the Vickers 588.  Two Lightning development aircraft were to be converted but of course nothing came of it in the so-called real world (back story will sort that out).  There's an outline drawing of the concept in Tony Wilson's 'EE Lightning Genesis & Projects':



For this build I'm using Ye Olde Airfix Lightning F.3 (derived of course from Ye Older Airfix Lightning F.1) plus the Freightdog VG Lightning conversion set; I can explain away the square-top fin in the backstory by cunning use of a P1B of the Lightning pre-production batch.

Work's begun, albeit merely removing the Freightdog parts from their casting blocks and lengthening the location holes for the new wings.  Next up some panel line rescribing and detailing to the cockpit.  Progress pics by the end of this week.

[kitbasher]

Minimal progress, to be honest, but at least some progress.  Some panel lines have been scribed and I've made a start busying up the cockpit with some rudimentary side consoles and I'm building up the bang seat to make it look more realistic.  And I've found an instrument panel decal to fit into the cockpit in due course.

Not a great deal of modelling time available this week, but if I can get the scribing completed by this time next week I'll be happy.

[McColm]

Looks like a good idea 

[The Wooksta!]

Cut down the fin.  Oddly, unlike the rest of the kit, the F3 fin is actually accurate.  I did it loads of time when I was backdating Airfix Lightnings back to F1s in the early 90s.

Failing that, steal an early fin from the Sword Lightnings.

[kitbasher]

Panel line rescribing completed, some rudimentary cockpit detailing under way, nose weight added (probably some more to come) and further work on the ejection seat done.



Next tasks - get the cockpit painted and the seat further detailed and painted, and then put the fuselage together.

No change to the fin, Lee - backstory will explain why.

EDIT: seat pic added.

[The Wooksta!]

You'll need to take off the cable duct.  They came in on the F1A.  No mention of any P1Bs with them.  Don't forget to drill out the gunports.

Some of the P1Bs had the F3 fin anyway.  XG327-XG331 all had F3 fins, as well as XG335-XG337, with the first batch all remaining with BAC.  Any of those are ideal candidates for serials.  I know with in flight one, I used an F1 serial but it has an F1 fin anyhoo.

XG329 was noted in a red colour scheme for use as a TSR2 chase plane, according to Roger Lindsay, but this is apparently a myth.

[kitbasher]

Yep, will be purloining the serial of one of the development batch airframes that had the square fin fitted and the cable duct will be coming off.  No gun ports though.

[The Wooksta!]

Nice work on the seat, although I always replace the shoddy kit ones with Aeroclub ones (and I have a good stash tucked away) as it helps with the weight.

Wheels.  The P1Bs had the multiple spokes and the Airfix kit has those.  If you've a Whirlybird Lightning tucked away, you may have a spare set in with the white metal.  If not, I can provide resin replacements.  And the dishes outer maingear doors.

[kitbasher]

Nice work on the seat, although I always replace the shoddy kit ones with Aeroclub ones (and I have a good stash tucked away) as it helps with the weight.

Thanks Lee.  The one thing I've really enjoyed the most about my recent fast jet builds has been making the ejection seat come to life.  Doesn't matter whether its painting replacement Aeroclub seats (e.g. Canberra F.10 - and oh, how I wished I'd bought more Aeroclub seats in the past) or making something out of kit seats (e.g. the still unfinished Hunter PR.11, the in-build Avro Arrow).  Resin seats can be super-detailed but the ballast aspect of the Aeroclub white metal items make them perfect accessories.

Wheels.  The P1Bs had the multiple spokes and the Airfix kit has those.  If you've a Whirlybird Lightning tucked away, you may have a spare set in with the white metal.  If not, I can provide resin replacements.  And the dishes outer maingear doors.

Don't have a Whirlybird Lightning but was plannning to use the Airfix items, and I've a pair of your resin wheel already (many thanks).  The replacement doors would be appreciated if you have any going, Lee.

[kitbasher]

Nose weighted, cockpit painted (very dark grey, looks like a coal hole), fuselage halves joined, fin/tailplanes/wing roots fitted, joins filled.

Next up a spot of PSR and painting/fitting the bang seat and outer wings.  Oh, and must prep the u/c.

It'll be a natural metal finish, red/white/blue national markings, black serial numbers (still need to decide which of the actual development/pre-production airframes to 'steal' - have narrowed down the field, though).

Need to think about the size of the underwing markings, given the impact of the VG mechanism on the shape of the wing.

[The Wooksta!]

I'd stick with the standard 36 inch.

[kitbasher]

I'd stick with the standard 36 inch.

I was pretty certain the outer section of the VG wing arrangement wouldn't offer enough space for standard Lightning roundels and serials, but I'm pleasantly surprised to note they actually do.  That does highlight a paucity of 36" roundels in the box (see rant at https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=35052.msg954427#msg954427); thankfully Modeldecal sheet 78 is in the box and will be raided for national markings and stencils as I've no current plans for 2nd line Lightning builds (although for personal reasons a Leuchars TFF F.1 is a very likely candidate at some point in the future). 

I think toe dipping in the waters of Evilbay is necessary to get a Modeldecal 47, rather than shell out on another Xtradecal X72041 (which I think is a disappointing - frustrating in fact - sheet).

Meanwhile the wings are on and PSR - thankfully not very much required - continues.  Tomorrow night while SWMBO is at bookclub I'll do more with the seat, rub down the filling and prepare a FOD cover for the intake.

[NARSES2]

Dave

I've most of this sheet's 1/72 equivalent in the stash, if it helps ?

https://www.ultracast.ca/product-p/ced48076.htm

[kitbasher]

Dave

I've most of this sheet's 1/72 equivalent in the stash, if it helps ?

https://www.ultracast.ca/product-p/ced48076.htm

Thanks Chris.  Tbh I'm not that badly off in terms of Lightning markings.  I've Modeldecal sheets for an F3 and an F6.  Will use kit sheets for Airfix F2A and F6 builds and then squirrel the spares away.

I'm reluctant to break into a kit sheet in case I don't actually build the kit and decide to sell it.  But once built, yes will use the decals as spares.

I guess that means get an Airfix F2A and an F6 built pronto to throw up spares!!

[kitbasher]

Intake cover made and attached, it helps hide the minor irregularities I noticed on the intake ring's leading edge, allowing me to fill both these and the intake ring/fuselage join and shooth the whole lot into a more acceptable shape. 

The Freightdog main u/c legs have been cleaned up and attached, as have two new nosewheel doors made from plastic sheet.  All of the Airfix doors are too thick so I'll be replacing them all.

A tail bumper has been fashioned from a really old wheel from the spares box, and the bang seat has been painted - masking tape straps next!

A coat of Humbrol 56 has highlighted a few small areas requiring a tad more PSR, nothing too serious.

And finally, the identity crisis is over - it'll be XG327, which was the last of the orignal development batch aircraft.  Following Cat 4 damage in February 1960, it was rebuilt to F.3 standard and used for supersonic noise tests until 1971, when it went into storage, making its way to St Athan as an instructional airframe (8188M) the following year.

In my world the rebuild to F.3 standard was only partially complete when XG327 was selected for conversion to the Vickers 588.