Kit: No. 2209
Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Academy, imported by Model Rectifier Corp., 80 Newfield Ave., P.O. Box 6312, Edison, NJ 08837, 732- 225-2100, www.modelrectifier.com
Price: $22
Comments: Injection-molded, 124 parts, decals, self-adhesive foil panels
Pros: Great fit and alignment, good interior and landing gear, choice of open or closed canopy, optional drop tanks, bombs, and “bazooka” rocket launchers
Cons: Radiator intakes too thick, drop tanks misshapen, decals lack detail
The first new injection-molded 1/72 scale Lightning since the early 1990s is a welcome addition to the Academy line. The first issue is the J model in Pacific Theater markings.
The moldings suggest other versions are to come. The area of the fuselage pod around the windscreen is separate, indicating that a different piece can be installed to hold the early-version rounded windscreen. Another clue is the thin plastic covering the leading-edge landing light bay of the later L version. If Academy makes versions previous to the J, all-new booms will have to be provided to account for the smaller radiators and oil-cooler/turbocharger intakes.
The gray plastic parts show Academy’s fine recessed lines, with plenty of detail in the cockpit and wheel wells. Optional parts include either closed or open canopy, boarding ladder, and the ability to mount “bazooka”-style rocket launchers, bombs, or drop tanks. The tanks appear a bit too fat at their front ends.
I was impressed by the overall fit. Lightning kits are prone to alignment problems while maintaning the fit of the two booms, wings, center fuselage pod and horizontal stabilizer. I was flabbergasted to find that those components clicked together perfectly on the first try. The proof was when I installed the landing gear. Without enough weight in the nose, the model leaned back, and the bottoms of both fins grounded on a perfectly flat counter. If the alignment had been off just a little, only one of the booms would have landed.
On the downside, the separate leading edges to the radiator intakes on the booms are too fat, and the trailing edges of the radiator fairings are too thick. Also, the separate intakes at the front of each boom aren’t as wide as the notches they fit into.
The nose doesn’t have much room for weight, and I was worried that adding more in the nacelles would overstress the landing gear. I put some weight in the forward fuselage, and for temporary displays, I keep the nose gear on the ground with a tiny spot of sticky putty on the bottom of the tire.
Academy provides each propeller blade separately. The flattened keys at the hub ends of each blade made them sit perfectly inside the spinners.
The decals went on fine, but the elaborate female nose art isn’t elaborate enough – neither nose-art choice has face detail.
With only 22 hours devoted to the project, I can recommend this as the best (and easiest to build) Lightning in this scale. I hope Academy produces early Lightnings to fill out the family.
– Paul Boyer