19th December 2025
Earlier today I came across a superb picture of a BAC Lightning lifting off from RAF Luqa. It really was a lovely image that had me wondering why in all of my years of building models I’d never built this aircraft in miniature.
It’s a certainly an odd omission from my back catalogue because not only is it one of my favourite aircraft, I have a stack of kits in the loft and books on the shelves, detailing every aspect of its service!
I have in the past tried to complete this aircraft from extant kits. As a kid I know that I had the original Airfix 1/72 kit, as did I the Matchbox 1/72 F.6 and then T.55. None made it over the finish line.
As it stands I have a collection of a Airfix kits in the loft in both 1/72 and 1/48, a number of which I would really like to build. But why have I not done this already? The answer to that alludes me I’m afraid as this aircraft sits firmly within my area of interest: military aviation from 1975 until 1985. Heck, I even attended a cadet camp at RAF Binbrook during the ‘80s so inspiration is not really in short supply.
Next year I’ll right this wrong and build a few Lightnings in both 1/72 and 1/48 (as much as I’d also like to do it in 1/32, the Trumpeter kit is simply too inaccurate to interest me). Who knows I may even consider a two-seater and perhaps even a book charting my progress. Now wouldn’t that be a fun project?
See you tomorrow.
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
Who knows, you might even consider publishing another bookazine on building the BAC Lightning as well?
LikeLike
Yes, stop procrastinating……build a Lightning🤣
LikeLike
Wow! I built a dozen back around 1980. Entered them as a collection at the IPMS USA Nationals. Didn’t win any thing but I got a mention in the SAM account of the Convention. Allen Hall had been in attendance. He growled at me when I told him how much I valued his work and his magazines. I was a highlight of my modelling career anyway. (I hear I am not the only one he ever growled at.)
LikeLike