Lightnings Pt 1

[The Wooksta!]

Few people may know that in the late 1960s, Libya actually signed a deal with BAC for Lightning F53s and Strikemasters.  However, Khadaffi's revolution occured shortly afterwards and the deal went down the bog.

A Libyan Lightning is one that I've been wanting to do for a while and I'd actually built an early Hasegawa kit to do it.  The only modifications were to add a plastic card floor and basic side consoles in the cockpit and use an Aeroclub MB Mk 4 bang seat.  I sprayed it aluminium, but then it got left.  

Yesterday, it was dug out of the loft and was decalled.  Although I'm happy with it, it could be better.  There's a second one part started in another box, although that's likely to be sand/brown/aluminium and have the more up to date green Libyan markings.  

Although it's not photographed, I've a part built Matchbox Strikemaster to go with it.  That was another of the projects thrown together yesterday, and that will end up in the sand/brown/light aircraft grey scheme with similar markings to this aircraft.

[The Rat]

...how many JMNs can read arabic anyway?

My buddy Mustafa Biggles says it reads "Khadaffi's a poopy head."

Gotta love a lightning no matter how it's done up!

[Spellbinder99]

All it says is "418", it is the aircraft number.

Not being a JMN, just that living here in the Middle East for 7 years, you pick a bit up....

Nice build as well...
Cheers

Tony

[Captain Canada]

Beauty !

Looks good in those markings......too bad more air arms didn't fly the bird. Especially middle eastern forces. Would have been neat to ee how she would have faired in actual combat, eh ? Maybe shooting down a few Mirage and F-4s, and then finish out her carrer by bagging an Isreali F-15 !

 

[Davey B]

I will be doing an Egyptian one at some stage as the Kuwaitis tried selling their Lightnings to Egypt in '73.  I don't think they would have lasted long.

That's an understatement! I think their Phantoms got down to 80% unservicability at one point

But still -- Lightnings...            

[lancer]

Lovely Lightnings Lee.  

[Leigh]

I've got some Nigerian decals from a HobbyCraft Jaguar if you want 'em Lee? Nigerians also have a nice bright Camo scheme.
Also looking at your other thread I've got some Hunter bits from a Plastyk/Frog kit that I'm building super clean you can have the pylons and undercarraige too.

[nev]

Very nice Lee.

Don't know why, but the Lightning seems to suit those Mid-east/ N African plain NMF schemes