English Electric Lightning F.2A Starter Set - Airfix 1:72

[woody37]

English Electric Lightning F.2A Starter Set

Airfix 1:72

The Cold War era created some iconic aircraft that have remained in the hearts of aviation enthusiasts ever since. None more so than the functional but beautiful looking Lightning which was designed with the ability to get to its intercept point as fast as possible. It's design does little to hide this purpose, with two powerful Avon turbojets in an unconventional stacked arrangement at the rear and a highly swept thin wing configuration leaving little room for the array of additional equipment, cockpit, landing gear and fuel. The aircraft developed a charismatic lump underneath to address the lack of internal fuel, but it was never to become an aircraft famed for its endurance capability. Despite a career spanning nearly 30 years, the Lightning was only ever operated by three nations, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and of course Britain, but if you want to see one flying now, a trip to Capetown to see Thunder City's T.5 will be necessary although there is plans to restore a T.5 to airworthy condition in the USA in the near future.

The F.2A kit was reviewed in May of this year by Paul HERE, so I won't do a review of the kit to avoid replication. That kit had decals for XN793 in the high visibility scheme as it wore in '72, however whilst this starter kit also includes decals for the same aircraft, they are the low visibility colours that it wore in 1974. Paint scheme for this aircraft was dark green over natural metal.

Conclusion
Whilst there has been some quality issues with the canopies provided in some of the Lightning kits, it has excellent detail and has been well received in the community with great results coming off fellow Britmodeller production lines. Whilst this set is obviously aimed at novice builders by providing the basic paints, glue and brushes to build it, it also provides a choice for more experienced builders if you want this decal option.

Review sample courtesy of

[Ravens]

Looks good, I've got the lightning on my wish list. I tend to prefer the basic non-beginner kits unless I'm getting them at a bargain price; the paint brushes do come in handy though.

[Lightningfreak]

Thanks for this review! Just got myself this kit too - now I've got all three 1/72 scale Airfix Lightnings stashed away ; will probably use this one as a "practice run". Love the dark green Royal Air Force Germany paint scheme - really a great job Airfix has done with these kits

Edited February 12, 2015 by Lightningfreak

[Andre B]

When I was building this kit I noticed an small "defect" on right fuselage half about then mm i front of the "shaft" for the right wing. On the inside of this fuselage there is an "mark" from the mould tool but this cant be the reason for the defect. I knew several builders that have experience of bad fix concerning the right wing compared to the left wing and fuselage part. I just wonder if there is something happens when they take the kit out of the mould that make this "hard to see damage" on  the right fuselage half. It's hard to se but on my kit I can clearly feel it with my fingers...

Careful building can fix this type of damage i noticed in time...

/ André