Singapore Lightning

[Rheged]

You can never have enough Lightnings.

You are,  of course, perfectly correct!!!

[Supertom]

Using the old circle/dot roundel, I take it?

[Nick]

The hunt for a Lightning kit goes well despite a minor hiccup..
Wooksta pointed a good eBay deal out to me, I set it on Watch and completely forgot about it

Looked last night and it'd gone for £7 plus £3.50 postage.   Luckily there was another on Buy It Now for £5.99 with free local collection   
Should have it on Friday, fingers crossed!

[The Wooksta!]

Same kit?  If it's only got the grey options in it, you'll need a new set of decals for the stencilling.  The lo-viz versions in grey had the walkway lines, etc, in white rather than black.

[Dizzyfugu]

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.

This is a great concept - and it was even based there with RAF forces. Love the idea very much, I might "add one" to the lot, too. I have a Matchbox kit somewhere, just need some Singapore markings... either use Turkish roundels for the early 70ies, or the Yin-Yan-insignia (which I'd prefer). Either bare metal finish (favorite, with a colorful tail), or a grey low-viz (late RAf style)variant. SEA would be an option, too, but I think it does not suit the Lightning well...

[The Wooksta!]

Xtradecal have Singapore markings on this Hunter sheet:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72063

[Dizzyfugu]

Ah, thanks 

I might - alternatively - use the decals from the current Airfix Strikemaster. It contains both roundel types, the Turkey-style and the full-color Yin-Yang roundels. The Low-Viz option amkes the Hunter sheet interesting, though - but I guess I will stick with a flashy NMF Lightning, leftover from 74th Squadron in Tengah in the early 70ies

[Nick]

I now have a Lightning F.6 on my desk! It's the old Hasegawa kit (fits their boxes!) re-released by Revell in 2007 with RAF 5 and 11 Sqdn markings.

Still thinking on the markings but Wooksta is right that the walkway stencils are all in white for a grey scheme. Don't really like the RAF green camo on an interceptor, NMF is out and so all-over grey could be done... When did the RAF go to overall grey schemes? Is there a website explaining the timelines of the various Lightning camo schemes, RAF or Saudi or Kuwaiti?

Definitely don't have any Singapore markings of any era in my stash so the Hannants sheet might have to be bought. At least there's lots of choice for later aircraft! Using the Yin-Yang scheme saves any puzzlement as to why Peru or Turkey had Lightnings, though wikipedia suggests that Egypt could have had ex-Kuwaiti ones.

[The Wooksta!]

Early 80s,although the Lightnings wore the older camo right up until they retired in late '88.  They only got repainted in the greys when they got a thorough servicing.

[NARSES2]

Definitely don't have any Singapore markings of any era in my stash so the Hannants sheet might have to be bought. At least there's lots of choice for later aircraft! Using the Yin-Yang scheme saves any puzzlement as to why Peru or Turkey had Lightnings, though wikipedia suggests that Egypt could have had ex-Kuwaiti ones.

Nick I have that sheet and you are wellcome to the Singapore markings. They are in both hi and low viz. Note the aircraft only had fusalage roundels though, no wing ones

[Nick]

Thank you Chris for the offer (we had a little chat earlier), look forward to seeing these in a few days. Best get on with building the kit first!

[Nick]

The build has gone well this afternoon to the point that all the fuselage, tail and wings are together. Now to let the glue dry before the first few rounds of PSR. The undercarriage and AIM-9 missile load will follow. I'm not using the overwing tanks because they look ugly and this machine would only be used on short range missions anyway.
Having a minor quibble with the lump of lead I stuck in the front as a noseweight, it has come loose and is rattling around somewhere inside. Hopefully I've shaken it back down to the nose and the PVA glue will secure it.

In my head I've got a vague idea of the paint scheme as being all over Barley Grey, red or blue spine and the hi-vis markings from Chris which arrived today. Naturally, this could change!

Do we think they might have bought the Gnat as a trainer or light strike?    I've been building the new Airfix one alongside the Lightning and was just wondering.... 

[Dizzyfugu]

They had the BAC Strikemaster during the late 60ies and 70ies as jet trainer. If Singapore used the Lightning, why not employ a swift trainer for that type, or as a kind of aggressor for training purposes?

[The Wooksta!]

I'd just have them with the ubiquitous Hunter.  IF you can get a Matchbox T55 Lightning, you've got your trainer but failiing that, Matchbox Hunter T7s aren't hard to find. 

If you do get one of the latter, I can give you a resin nose to replace the two seat one.  Nowt fancy, just the matchbox nose moulded with some basic cockpit interior.  I'll bring it down to 'uddersfield.

[Nick]

Interesting idea there Lee. About time I started building the classic British jets! I do have the Revell Hunter but I'm sure Hudds will be full of Matchbox bargains.

Had a little upset this morning. I primer sprayed both the Lightning and Gnat last night and left them upside down overnight while the underside dried. This morning I found that the PVA glue I was using to hold the lead noseweight in place hasn't set after a week and poured out all over the kit and box. Fortunately it has washed off with hot water but I now have a Lightning shape baby's rattle!
Annoying as I've used this glue trick many times before.

A tricky job may now take place. If the weight really needs to be in front of the cockpit I can remove the nosecone and cut a hole for the engine intake, then apply long pliers to get the lead lump out and secure it with putty. Really don't want to have to do this though.