For reasons I can't fully explain I recently completed this Lightning. Like my MiG-21s, this is a 1/100 scale Tamiya plastic kit. I have a couple more of these in stock - could it be that I'm thinking about a game based on the air defence of the UK? Only time will tell.
I used the markings in the kit, so my Lightning bears the markings of 5 Squadron RAF.
When I were a lad there were Lightnings based a few miles away at RAF Leuchars. At air shows there in the 1970s you didn't so much hear them as feel them! Damn impressive aircraft.
The kit was quite an easy build and despite it's age the parts fit was pretty good.
10 comments:
Very nice Tim. I was brought up in Dundee and I used to watch to Lightnings (and then the Phantoms) streaking out from RAF Leuchars on air patrol. They used to intercept incoming Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear' bombers which used to regularly test the RAFs response times in the northern approaches. Often the RAF pilots and the Bear crews would exchange 'friendly' waves to each other - there is a famous photo taken at the time by the RAF navigator of a Soviet Bear crew member drinking a Coca Cola! I guess the downfall of teh Soviet Union was on the cards at this point! :)
A true Cold War warrior Tim.
Nice looking work. Again a suprise they have it in 1/100 scale.
Stephen Beat
I remember that photo in the Dundee Courier! Late '70s/early '80s I think? Where in Dundee did you live?
Paul
The Tamiya 1/100 kits have been around a long time and many are still quite widely available. Dirt cheap (c£3.00) too!
Lovely aircraft - the last all-British supersonic fighter.
Very nice work. Something about the Lightning...I think it's the stacked engines! Lovely a/c.
Monty
We'll not see its like again.
Nick Grant
All the best 'planes have a touch of eccentricity!
Hi Tim - I used to live on William Street, just off Victoria Road. We were lucky, because of the way the town slopped down we had a beautiful view of the Tay Bridge and Fife from our top floor. Great for plane spotting! I unlucky enough to be watching a couple of Phantoms when they collided mid-air once, but the crews ejected OK. The Lightnings were my favourite though.
Stephen Beat
I was brought up mostly in Monifieth - I remember plenty of air activity over the river.
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