Airfix 1/48 English Electric Lightning Kit review

A true classic kit review! Airfix's 1998 1/48 English Electric Lightning F-1 / F-1A / F-2 / F-3
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[@alantoon5708]

A couple of Lightning stories: Towards the end of its' career, most of the flight demonstrations were flown with the F.3 in order to save hours on the F.6. One day the display pilot inadvertently got into a flat spin during practice and duly ejected. The jet crashed near the airfield and was destroyed. The pilot reportedly walked into his C.O.'s office and stated: "Sir, my airplane has gone u/s (unserviceable). Can I have another?" In the 1980's there was an unofficial time to height contest between a T.5 Lightning and an F-15C. The Lightning apparently won. However, against an A model F-15...? The F.2 Lightning could carry up to four cannon if the Firestreak pack was removed. There was a rumor that some F.2A's (F.2's converted to near F.6 standard) carried six cannon 😳. Maybe one of your British viewers can comment on this...

[@alantoon5708]

A wonderful model. Here in Smyrna, Georgia, USA, it is 86 degrees and 🌞. Although over 20 years old now, the 1/48 Lightnings are all still close to the state of the art. It needs an aftermarket cockpit and decals. A good friend of mine did an exchange tour with 74 Squadron in the early 1960's. He of course remarked quite favorably on the flight performance of the Lightning...and also on its' short flight endurance. He went on the fly the American counterpart, the F-106 Delta Dart. Airfix had that kit tooled in South Korea. Finally a great Lightning kit.... The 1/72 kit is also very good.

[@johnmarley6695]

The long, thin ducting down the side of the later aircraft aren’t antennae, Peter. They’re conduit ducting for wiring looms. There wasn’t enough room to run the looms inside the fuselage. “Shrink-wrapped airframe” is a nice analogy. Great video: I have the later release kit on my bench at the moment. Resin seat, Eduard PE...DROOL!

[@themajesticmagnificent8561]

Great review and video Peter,as usual..Plus that jacket looks the part Sir.👍 Ok,I love the Lighting and seen it fly twice and it roared.!.There was nothing like it.I still today compere anything I see and really hear that is new in the sky to it..(This will include the f-35,when I finally see/hear one)..But you didn’t hear the lighting.You felt it shake right through you.! As I’ve jumped back in the game in the past couple of years,I missed this Airfix release.I’m hoping that Airfix reissue this kit as I’ve got a few of Airfix’s 48th jets to build.A lighting is needed.!!!!! Again,thanks for a great review,history plus your memories and thoughts on the Lighting..A missed Sky masterpiece 🇬🇧👍

[@jimnorbert8918]

Wanted to also mention that if your looking for a full meal deal for the EE Lightning keep your eyes open for the Grand Phoenix kit. It's the Airfix kit but with pretty much all the aftermarket, resin cockpit, wheel bays, speed brake interiors, engine exhaust trunks, A P.E. fret and canopy mask included. Had a chance to pick one up at a hobby store that was going OOB. I past on it because the box was open and the clerk wouldn't let me inspect the contents before buying, kicking myself in the butt now for that lol. Peter just wanted to say I don't post much on YT but I have been a subscriber to your channel now for several months and really enjoyed your Matchbox reviews. Like you I built many Matchbox kit's in the 70's and agree, for the time period in 1/72nd scale they were very detailed and a pleasure to build.

[@michaelevans205]

Committed Lightningphile, (?!?). When I was a youngster I lived at RAF Akrotiri for three years....56 sqn with F3s and later F6s. Just fabulous! My favourite Lightning quote......'shortage of fuel was never a problem in the Lightning. Until you started the engines!'

[@davidclarke1426]

Hi Peter, Thunder and Lightnings was the the first real novel I can remember buying from the Scholastic book club in school back in the days when the trolley came around each class in the morning to deliver our 1/3 pint, silver-top milk bottles. That book fired my love of reading and books and I've never forgotten it, reminded immediately every time I see an image of a lightning. I was delighted when you spoke so warmly of it in your review; for a few seconds Dublin 2023, became Belfast, 1979. I'm so glad to hear someone else describe it at all, never mind with the same high regard for it. I just looked it up and we were right to think it was a fantastic book - it won the Carnegie Medal in 1976 and, believe it or not is still in print and available online from Eason! I'm buying a copy today, I wonder will you? 🤔. Thanks a million for all your efforts to produce such great content for us all.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Thanks David, I have a copy already! ☺️ Also reminds me of happy childhood days. 👍🏻 Sad to report that the author Jan Mark passed away a few years ago. 😥

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

I was thinking about my impression of Thunderbirds from the box art...Now I realise where Gerry Anderson got the wings shape for Thunderbird 1 from!? 😃

[@sorvad99]

always reminded me of Thunderbird 1, I think Gerry Anderson may have been influenced by the Lightning

[@alantoon5708]

Also had that True Details cockpit set. It was very good. They were put out by Squadron.

[@neilhughes9310]

Nice call on the Jan Mark book. I read it when I was in my 40s and yes it was a beautiful read.

[@jimlyon7276]

@02:12 - What he's attempting to describe here, we knew as a "Rotation Take Off" - Start up & taxy to the end of the runway, Select undercarriage up ! (The u/c wouldn't move as that was finally controlled by the WoG (Weight on Ground) micro switches which wouldn't let the undercarriage retract until the under carriage legs were FULLY extended ! With the brakes on, the pilot would open the throttle fully & then select full reheat. After a moment, let the brakes off, run along the runway until he's obtained sufficient speed for take off. Lift off, but hold it low so the undercarriage retracted. Keep the a/c fairly low to build up speed. Then near the end of the runaway, lift it up enough to give the tail clearance when he rotated the aircraft into a vertical climb. If in the mood, certainly he had enough power to easily go supersonic whilst in a vertical climb. Then usually disappear into the clouds & probably level off somehere about 60, 000 feet. ALWAYS impressive ! ! !.

[@maxbrandt6]

I have some really nice decals for the E.E. Lightening but sadly I was never able to snag this kit and nowadays it goes for steep prices.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Yes, it's a collectors item! I have a still-sealed example, but you will need a mortgage to buy it! 😉

[@maxbrandt6]

@@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab Not surprised by that at all, Peter!

[@sorvad99]

Don't know why some decal sheets have separate red dots for the RAF roundels, I have the airfix Lockheed Hudson and that has the same thing, its not a big problem but I don't understand why they do that.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Yes I agree, its odd and rather annoying! 😖

[@johnnoble01]

Its because back then it was harder to print the dot in the middle. This way its up to you if the dots off centre.

[@kitbag9033]

The vertical stacked engine layout was chosen because it presents the lowest frontal cross section over any other arrangement.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

11 & 5 Sqn and Lighting Training Flight were at RAF Binbrook

[@jasonmartin5488]

what a great review, checking ebay now... keep them coming please

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Thanks Jason...Ebay should pay me Royalties! 😬

[@dankuettel5063]

Nice looking kit. I may have to source one for the growing stack of kits on the shelf. Nice Omega Speedy you're wearing btw.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Cheers! It's the 'Dark Side of the Moon' Ceramic Speedmaster watch. 👍🏻

[@sorvad99]

I used to love the Lightning, saw it regularly at the Finningley airshows when I was a kid. The crowd would be amazed at that amazing climb rate. I recently made the matchbox lightning, lovely aircraft.

[@stephicohu]

Hanger Queen!

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Does the model have all of the regular fuel leaks from a Lightning?

[@sergiogarcia6774]

Hermoso kit de un hermoso avión 👍

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Its 'Triple 1' Sqn, not ' One, One, One Sqn'

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Lightning - pure power and ignorance.