Airfix 1/72 English Electric Lightning F.1A

[AdrianMF]

This is the old (1962?) Airfix Lightning, built largely OOB:

 

I didn't make many changes:

* cockpit and seat detail from card and scraps

* plunge moulded canopy

* rolled and crinkled paper jet pipes

* used Firestreaks from Sword T.4/5 kit

* tailplanes trimmed back by 3mm

* decals mix of kit's own, Sword T.4/5 and Xtradecal

 

It was painted with brushed Revell acrylic silver and the wing walk lines were Humbrol acrylic black applied with a spring bow pen and ruler. Varnished with Johnsons multi-surface polish.

 

While clearly it isn't remotely state of the art, it's a well-fitting kit and an enjoyable build. The build thread is here if you are interested.

 

Thanks for looking,

Adrian

[Rob K.]

That picture No 6 of your build looks really nice. Good looking Lightning.

 

Rgds,

 

Rob

[Alpha Delta 210]

Fabulous result from such an ancient kit! 

[bigbadbadge]

That is a gorgeous looking Lightning Adrian ,  great work. 

Chris

[Longhorn]

A very smart looking Lightning. 

[ColinChipmunkfan]

Great work Adrian. Perfectly good-looking model.  I remember building this in the 60's, not as well as you have done it.

Colin

[Ray S]

A fabulous result Adrian, it was very well upgraded 

 

Ray 

[Work In Progress]

I'm not a Lightning expert but for what it's worth I think this kit still looks good. Yours especially. I will look into the tailplane question for when I build mine, I didn't realise it was over-size.  New canopy looks terrific. 

 

Is there a close-up on the tailpipes? I'm interested in what you've done there. I haven;t looked at the build thread yet but will go over for a look

EDIT: Yes, seen them on the build thread now. Would never have thought of that!

Edited June 11 by Work In Progress

[Fred piket]

Nice build and result Adrian!

[tomkil]

Great to see a classic on the old Airfix stand!

[AdrianMF]

Thanks @Rob K., @Alpha Delta 210, @bigbadbadge, @Longhorn, @ColinChipmunkfan, @Ray S, @Fred piket, @tomkil. The Lightning has such a distinctive shape and for me the old Airfix kit captures it pretty well.

 

@Work In Progress The tailplanes as provided stick out too far behind the fuselage so something is going on! My canopy had a bubble in the windscreen; I would have used it if it hadn't because it was pretty clear and distortion free for the limited amount of glazing that is left after painting the frames. The tailpipes were fun to do and are a big improvement over what the kit provides, but the Sword tailpipes show how it should be done.

 

In a strange way it's a good thing this kit was modified into the F.3, because if you do get one you will know it was moulded when the moulds were new and Airfix used a harder plastic, so everything is crisp and well-fitting. I have an Airfix Mirage (also an early 1960s mould) in a modern red box re-release, and it's an ill-fitting mess, moulded in soft blue-grey plastic. Not sure that will ever make it to the display shelf!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Pete1961]

Nice piece of work.

[AliGauld]

Beautiful Lightning Adrian.

Another absolute cracker from you.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[bianfuxia]

Great work and this old kit really stands up, I reckon. I recently finished mine after a long time on the shelf of doom and I was pleasantly surprised with how decent it looks. You've done a great job with yours - well done!

[AdrianMF]

3 hours ago, bianfuxia said:

recently finished mine

Time for a quick RFI??

[bianfuxia]

On 6/17/2025 at 12:44 AM, AdrianMF said:

Time for a quick RFI??

I did an RFI of it earlier this year:

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235153150-ye-olde-airfix-lightning-rolls-off-the-shelf-of-doom/

[AdrianMF]

Very nice, even though it's after its rework as an F.3. I just have to have a pointy fin with my Lightnings!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[noelh]

Excellent build, nostalgia overload. I first bought that kit in a little shop in the village we were visiting as part of a school trip around 1972/73. Remember when every shop had a kit or two for sale? Don't remember anything else about the trip although it was something to do with a canal. 🤔

 

Built it quickly of course. The Lightning was cool and I harboured dreams of flying jet fighters one day. 

 

Thanks for the memories! 

[Adler Leon]

Subject and kit kinda work to evoke the period, used to watch them taking off when a kid.

Nice work all round.

L

[woody37]

Lovely build Adrian and there's something timeless and nostalgic about being displayed on the old plastic base!

[MACALAIN]

Well done mate.

 

Alain

[tempestfan]

On 6/10/2025 at 9:26 PM, AdrianMF said:

This is the old (1962?) Airfix Lightning, built largely OOB:

 

Lovely - and on a first issue "A" stand 🙂 IMHO the new canopy for the Snap'n'glue issue (and then used for the 3)  is much better, if only it hadn't those tongues at the bottom.

By building her inflight you circumvented one potential problem of the kit - it has the P.1B style wheels, that I have not yet seen on operational 1A's (yet - I'm working my way through the Scott book, and there's at least one pic of the 2 prototype with the early wheels).

On 6/11/2025 at 10:58 AM, Work In Progress said:

 I will look into the tailplane question for when I build mine, I didn't realise it was over-size.  New canopy looks terrific. 

 

According to the DaCo drawings, the tailplane is a bit oversize in chord - I think it can be shortened at the T/E without affecting the mounting point/relative position on the fuselage. Apart from that, the outline is pretty much spot on (guess what is high on my to do list if I ever build a model again...).

[Giampiero Piva]

'Treble One' Lightning, the best. Bravo !

[IanC]

Terrific model, Adrian. I vaguely remember building the kit in the early 70's. Thanks for another trip down memory lane. 🙂