This is my Lightning
F6, numbered XR725 represented here in its last colors : the 11 squadron
flagship, piloted by Jake Jarron. The aircraft began its career in February 1965
as a F Mk 3 version, it also flew with 74 squadron as a newly converted F6
version and with 56 squadron in Cyprus.
It continued its
career with 11 squadron based at Binbrook in 1983 and got its black spine &
fin in 1986. In the end of 1987, it became fatigue life expired and was replaced
by XS903 with the large black eagle on the fin until may 1988. The last
Lightning left service in June 1988. About XR725, it belongs today to Charles
Ross.
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I chose to depict a
flying aircraft in convoy configuration (extrados fuel tanks, no weapon,
forbidden to cross mach 1), but I still have to conceive of a display stand...
Actually, it stands on an ugly iron wire, that I carefully erased from my
pictures.
The kit came OOB, I
just scratchbuilt all the cockpit. Unfortunately, it's so small, that you don't
see the inside work once finished. It's all painted with Gunze colors light
aircraft gray BS381C/627 (H332), Barley gray BS4800/18B21 (H334) and medium sea
gray BS381C/637 H335. The aircraft is weathered with some dark gray around the
raised panel lines, it also receives a very light shade of light brown around
the rear fuselage to simulate the heated engine areas.
Everything went well on this kit,
the only thing I didn't like too much with the final result is the raised panel
lines. I see only them when I look at my model. That's why I decided to rescribe
all my next model featuring raised panel lines (I have a Hasegawa Hellcat
waiting, I'll make my hand on it...).
Check references from this great
site about a great aircraft : http://www.lightning.org.uk/
Maybe Lightning strikes twice...
PS
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images below to see larger images
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