TOPIC: Semi-Profile P.1B Lightning for TSP L-2

The Lightning, being loud, and (at last for the RAF!) supersonic, is an iconic jet fighter for many air-minded youngsters who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a common sight at airshows and if you lived close to an airbase.



Pete Smart designed a built up Lightning for Aerographics for Jet-X and this well regarded and popular kit achieved it's full potential when, from about 2000 onwards, it was powered by a Rapier L-2HP.



Above: Ivan Taylor's competition-winning Mk 5 Lightning built from the Aerographics kit.

But there hasn't been, to my knowledge a profile of semi-profile model out there. As we now have suitable motors, it was definitely time to design one.

There are lots ot of nice illustrations out there to base on's design on, even if, like me, you prefer the Mk 1 you are familiar from holidays in Norfolk in the early 1960s.



also, I had scans from a Polish paper.card kit of a Mk1, and this was a good basis for my own templates.



Above, the Maty all-card Lightning with example scans.



Above: my initial A4 template derived from this kit with, on the right, my refined template ready for priniting on tissue. I was quite pleased with this. I took a lot of care over the tiger logo (Squadron 74) on the fin.

Building the Lightning was quite straightforward, and, like the F-84 Thunderstreak, parts were finished in silver before applying the printed tissue.









Above: I also produced a set of monochrome 'Quicky-type' templates. This model would be easier and simpler to build, but should look just as good in the air.

I of course prefer a more realistic Lightning, and I hope I've done the vintage Polish static model kit justice.



Above: the rather nice painting the Maty Modelarz kit had on its box is shown left. My Lightning, in a similar pose, is shown right.

Templates are available on request.

Nice one, hope it turns out to be a good flyer too.