BAC Lightning Mk.1A/Mk.2
Limited Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale BAC Lightning F.1A/F.2 is available online from Squadron.com

The English Electric Lightning was a remarkable and unique aircraft. In an era just emerging from propeller-driven technology and sub-mach speeds, the Lightning was a great leap forward.

The Lightning's design combined a novel, vertical arrangement for its two Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines. This powerful symmetrical configuration was aerodynamically efficient and permitted adequate performance if one engine failed. The 60 degree swept wing allowed a stunning top-speed of Mach 2.2, yet design subtleties such as the wing-tip ailerons also granted excellent dogfighting properties.

The Lightning’s speed, maneuverability and climbing ability was superior to all of its contemporaries when it first entered service. In common with the Mig 21, its Cold War adversary, the Lightning underwent a number of fundamental design changes over a long service life. Throughout its career, the Lightning was only limited by its restricted range and relatively inadequate weaponry.

The original P.1 Lightning prototype took to the air in August 1954, and entered RAF Squadron service in 1960.

In addition to front-line duties for the RAF in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Singapore and Germany, the Lightning F. Mk53 was exported to the Royal Saudi and Kuwaiti Air Forces. The Saudi Air Force is the only operator of the Lightning to have used the aircraft in a live conflict.

Australia also evaluated the Lightning when the RAAF was looking to replace its Sabre jets.

Airfix 1/48 scale E.E. Lightnings

Airfix released their E.E. Lightning kits in the late 1990s. These represented the high water mark of Airfix production. Along with their 1/48 scale late Griffon Spitfires, the Lightnings were the best kits that Airfix has ever produced.

Two versions were released, the F-1/F-3; and the F-2a/F-6.

The level of detail was very good, the surface detail was crisp and restrained, and the shapes were accurate. The only area that let the kit down were the underwhelming decals and a warped wing on the F.6 .

Sadly, the kit disappeared quickly from the hobby shop shelves and has only rarely been available since.

Under the superbly illustrated box lid, Eduard's 1/48 scale Limited Edition BAC Lightning F.Mk.1A / Mk.2 comprises around 130 parts in grey plastic; 12 parts in clear injected styrene; four parts in grey resin; colour photo-etched fret; nickel-plated photo-etched fret; one sheet of masks for canopy and wheels; decals for four aircraft.

All the plastic parts are from the original Airfix Lightning kit, and they looks as good today as they did when they were first released. Indeed, they still compare favourably with the best kits available in 2009. The kit features positionable landing flaps, two piece canopy that may be posed open and the choice of either Red Top or Firestreak missiles, both with clear seeker heads. Air brakes are separate too, but most photos of Lightnings on the ground show these to be closed.

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Although they are marked as "not for use" in this package, the sprues contain the squared-off fin and all the other parts needed for the F.Mk.3 version.

Airfix's half-hearted cockpit received a major facelift with Eduard colour photo-etched side consoles, instrument panels (different versions for the Mk.1 and the Mk.2 - there's a bonus for my old Airfix Lightning!), harness straps and smaller front-office details. A number of photo-etched parts help lift the simple plastic instrument coaming and gunsight too.

Eduard also kicks off its "Brassin" line, so called because it includes resin parts enhanced with photo-etched brass. In this case, the main resin part is a beautifully rendered ejection seat. Cushions are cast in place, while the harness straps, ejection loops and smaller details are added from coloured photo-etched parts.

Large photo-etched ceilings for the wheel wells are welcome, replacing the blank faces of the inside of the upper wings. Other helpful parts on the large nickel-plated photo-etched fret include delicate afterburner details and undercarriage enhancements.

Of course, Eduard also supplies self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels.

I built the Airfix Lightning F.6 back in 1998, so I can advise that this kit will need plenty of nose weight. As an option (or more likely, an addition) to conventional lead weights, Aeroclub offer a few accessories that will help in this regard - a white metal intake bullet / radome (Part No. V169), and a metal nose ring (V168). Being positioned right at the front of the model, these heavy metal parts will help keep the nose on the ground.

Marking Options

Four very colourful marking options are offered. The decals are a vast improvement over the original Airfix sheet in terms of colour, register and clarity. Being Cartograf-printed, you can also be confident that they will perform perfectly on application.

The options are:

• Lightning F. Mk. 1A, XM 184/A, No. 111 Squadron, 1962. Bare metal with red trim.

• Lightning F. Mk. 1A, XM 172/B, No. 56 Squadron, 1963, Firebirds Aerobatic team

• Lightning F. Mk. 2, XN 786/D, No. 92 Squadron, Gütersloh

• Lightning F. Mk. 2, XN 794/WW, No. 19 Squadron, Gütersloh

Eduard's Limited Edition BAC Lighting F.Mk.1A / Mk.2 is an impressive and well-detailed kit. Airfix's plastic is as good today as it was when it was first released, while the comprehensive photo-etch and the resin parts add significantly to the overall package. The beautiful decal sheet is the icing on the cake.

In my opinion, this is probably the best of Eduard's Limited Edition repackagings to date, thanks largely to the excellent base kit.

The price tag might initially induce a sharp intake of breath, but if you add up what you would pay for photo-etch (at least $25.00 for this amount), the large decal sheet (say $20.00) and the resin parts (another $10.00 or so), and the scarcity of the Airfix Lightning, the price is put into better perspective.

Furthermore, Eduard has proven in the past that "Limited Edition" is not a marketing ploy. Once these kits are gone, they're really gone. And considering that this is a very attractive package, I reckon they will fly off the shelves at Mach 2.2.

Better be quick!

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 16 October, 2009
Last updated 16 October, 2009

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