Starting at the beginning...
As I mentioned in my last post, I joined a local group called the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights. I went to a few of their monthly meetings before deciding to build the Lightning. It was really helpful to see the different types of models these guys were building. When I finally decided on the Lightning, one of the members offered to work with me on the project. It turned out he's a former Lightning owner and a prolific maker of museum-quality model yachts, so good for me!
Next, I contacted the International Lightning Class Association. Their website not only provides a lot of useful information, it also shows that the Lightning is a very popular and active class of sailboats in many parts of the world. The ILCA own the design, so this is where to buy plans. I ordered a set of the original Sparkman & Stephens plans for $50. My plans are for reference only, which is fine if you're repairing a full scale boat or building a model. If you want to build a full scale Lightning, the cost is $100 which entitles you to build one boat and have an official ILCA number assigned, and includes updated supplemental plans and a copy of the Wooden Boat Magazine article on building the Lightning.
The Wooden Boat Magazine article (in three parts, issues 153-155) is definitely worth having. I got a PDF copy from the reference library at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
I also joined the Classic Lightning Class Sailboats Yahoo Group. This may be the best place online to find people who are building or maintaining wooden Lightnings. There are lots of photos and an active discussion board. For the most part I've been lurking on that site, but I have asked one or two questions and gotten helpful replies.
I've tried to find wooden Lightnings to use as a reference. There aren't many Lightnings in the Bay Area, where I live, which is kind of ironic considering this is a major sailing area. There are a few wooden Lightnings kicking around here, and I did photograph one of them before starting my model, but it was pretty beat up and not something I would want to replicate. I also visited Mystic Seaport where I (naively) expected to find Lightning Number One on display, available for my inspection. No such luck: I think it was stored in a warehouse at the time, or maybe moved to Skaneateles. Anyway, I decided my model would have to be a typical Lightning because I lacked the references needed to represent a specific boat.
If anyone knows of other Lightning references, please let me know.
Next up: starting construction.