Kit: Nos. 09178 and 09179
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Airfix, Humbrol Ltd., Marfleet Lane, Kingston-Upon-Hull HU9 5NE, England, 44-1428-701191
Price: $33 each
Comments: Injection molded, 162/150 parts, decals.
Airfix's new Lightning kits make it possible to build almost any single-seat version of Britain's ultimate point-defense interceptor. The F1-F3 kit provides the wing set of the early Lightnings, and the F2A/F6 kit features the slightly "cranked" wing and larger ventral fuel blister. Other details between the kits differ, so decide which version you want to build, then pay attention to the instructions as each version has unique features.
Both kits are molded in light gray and clear styrene. Excellent recessed surface detail is the highlight, but there are a few sink holes and some warpage. Because of Airfix's multi-version approach, there are too many options to list here, but each kit has a two-part canopy that can be posed open, as well as Redtop and Firestreak missiles, and an optional refueling probe. Comprehensive decals give you six markings options for the F1/F1A/F2/F3, seven for the F2A/F6.
Gone are the days of single-page instructions with tiny exploded-view drawings - Airfix provides 27 pages of instruction for the F2A/F6, and 22 pages for the F1/F1A/F2/F3. Assembly sketches are excellent and four-view drawings show each marking option, plus stencil locators. There are several detail shots of real Lightnings, and a list of Humbrol color numbers and names.
The decal sheets are huge and colorful, but my F1/F1A/F2/F3 sheet was unusable - the clear carrier was printed 1/4" out of register. I used Cutting Edge sheet No. CED48075 instead.
The cockpit of each kit is adequate for the scale, but detailers may want to substitute an aftermarket resin set.
Parts fit overall is good for both kits, with a few tricky areas. You'll need to add about 3/4 oz. of weight into the nose to keep the model from sitting on its tail. I left off many small details - the afterburner assembly, and weapons - until after painting. I had a little trouble aligning the intake center body. Wings on both kits were warped, but that didn't affect the fit. I had to refine the fit of the flaps, though. Flaps should be up on parked Lightnings.
I used super glue to fill seams around the ventral gun pack on my F6, then drilled out the cannon ports. The location of the retraction struts and braces for the main landing gear is vague in the diagrams. I found the old Aeroguide Lightning F3/6 monograph to be helpful here.
Redtop and Firestreak missiles are provided in each kit, but Redtops were appropriate for the F3 and F6 only.
I used Testor Metalizer for the natural-metal F2 and the bottom of the F6, and Xtracolor gloss enamels for the camouflaged F6. The Airfix decals were thick, but Solvaset mixed with white glue pulled them down nicely. The yellow-to-white color registration was off a bit, but careful trimming makes it less obvious. After the decals were dry, I overcoated the F6 with Polly Scale clear flat. Bare-Metal Foil covers the intake rings.
While neither kit falls together, the results are worthwhile. The Lightning is an impressive machine in this scale. Each model measures within a few scale inches of the proper dimensions. The two best references are the Aeroguide (mentioned above) and the recent Wings of Fame Volume 7. I spent about 30 hours on each model.
Minor fit problems and warping will make either kit trouble for beginners, but experienced modelers who have been clamoring for a 1/48 scale Lightning won't mind.
- Ross Whitaker