Singapore Lightning

[Nick]

The English Electric Lightning was designed as a point defence fighter and interceptor. It has a short range. Singapore is a small nation with need of a short range local air defence.

[NARSES2]

Great idea Nick

[Rheged]

Great idea Nick

Agreed!  A point defence machine that can climb from zero to eleventeen thousand feet in no time at all is exactly what Singapore needs. An excellent idea for the Asiarama group build!

[Dizzyfugu]

Yesssss! Go for it, it offers many livery options, too, from SEA livery (Skyhawk style) through NMF to some post-modern low-viz air spueriority scheme.

And there's also the option for a trainer withs stepped second cockpit, just as on the unique Singapore Skyhawk trainers... 

[The Wooksta!]

Go straight to the current boxing of the Hasegawa F6 kit for an easy build.  Ignore Trumpeter's overpriced abortion or wait for the Airfix F2A, which is convertable into an early F6 by lengthening the cable ducts and filling the gun ports.

For a trainer, the Matchbox Lightning T55 is ideal straight from the box, although you may wish to use a pair of Aeroclub bang seats (MB Mk 4).

If you go for the Hasegawa kit, avoid the early boxings, because the cockpit is limited to a seat and there's no guns on the belly tank. It was slightly retooled in the early/mid 80s with the gun ports/bulges added, plus a luxurious cockpit comprising floor and stick. Ideally you want a second hand one, as Hasegawa's current prices are extortionate.  Seek out a Revell boxing, the 5 Sqn one with the red spine, as it was the current Hasegawa kit reboxed with better decals.  Avoid the Frog/Novo one as it's identical to the early Hasegawa kit.

Xtradecal have Singapore markings on their Hunter Export sheet.

[Thorvic]

Just have Singapore take over the 74sqdn Lightnings that were stationed there when the UK withdrew in the early 70's 

[kitbasher]

Just have Singapore take over the 74sqdn Lightnings that were stationed there when the UK withdrew in the early 70's 

Like Hong Kong did with RAF Spit 24s.

[van883]

I have just built a Frog Lightning. Painted the pilot and with the canopy on I couldn't see an interior if there was one...

[The Wooksta!]

Pavla do a nice resin cockpit set.

[deathjester]

I have just built a Frog Lightning. Painted the pilot and with the canopy on I couldn't see an interior if there was one...

I know what you mean - the PR7 was a Frog/Novo kit, and the canopy was awful !  Ended up giving it an 'extra heavy green anti-glare tint', if you catch my drift...

[Nick]

I need to get a Lightning kit and suitable markings first, preferably cheap! This was just a thought exercise but it would work so a brief backstory is this...

After the disaster that was the Malaysian Federation and their departure from it, Singapore decided to develop a defence force based on what they knew. This was the British and Commonwealth model. When it became clear that the British wanted to leave by 1971, the Singapore govt did a deal whereby they would get 2 squadrons of Lightning jets, fully refurbished and zero-houred by BAC in the UK.
Included in the deal were spare parts, support backup and crew training with the RAF until 1976. After this time training was provided by ex-RAF instructors on a very generous pay deal for a few years.

Basically little is different except that the RSAF gets Lightnings instead of Hunters. Think they might order BAe Hawk trainers in the late 1970s, these to replace the Strikemasters.

[The Wooksta!]

Time hasn't been kind to the Novo Lightning moulds.  The ones I got back in 1992 were pretty rough.  I haven't seen recent mouldings  

By contrast, the Hasegaw kit - which is pretty much the same kit - is still fairly usable, if basic.  And the canopies are pretty crystal clear.

[tc2324]

Just have Singapore take over the 74sqdn Lightnings that were stationed there when the UK withdrew in the early 70's 

That`s a great idea and also noticed a lot of the chat has involved 1/72 scale. How about going to 1/48 and using the `new-ish` Airfix version which are going reasonably cheap these days?

[Captain Canada]

Great idea Nick ! Just what we need around here....more Lightnings !

[The Wooksta!]

You can never have enough Lightnings.