Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: TallEng on June 27, 2014, 09:09:47 PM

Title: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: TallEng on June 27, 2014, 09:09:47 PM
How the E.E. Lightning came to win the deal of the Century:
(All of this has been copied and adjusted (slightly)from Wikipedia) so it must be true
Now read on....
 The German Air Force was looking for a foreign-designed multi-role combat aircraft to operate in support of a missile defense system. The Lockheed Starfighter was hot favorite to win this major order until the Lockheed bribery scandal broke, which caused caused considerable political controversy in West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan. The final nail in the coffin for the Starfighter for the Germans was the comment by Erich Hartmann, the world's top-scoring fighter ace,  commander of one of Germany's first jet fighter-equipped squadrons who deemed the F-104 to be an unsafe aircraft with poor handling characteristics for aerial combat. To the dismay of his superiors, Hartmann judged the fighter unfit for Luftwaffe use. This gave The English Electric sales team the chance they needed,
The Lightning was presented and reworked to convert it into an all-weather ground-attack, reconnaissance, and interceptor aircraft. This was chosen over the Grumman F11F Super Tiger, Lockheed F104 Starfighter and Northrop N-156. The aircraft found a new market with other NATO countries, and eventually a total of 2,578 of all variants of the Lightning were built in the U.K. and abroad for various nations. The Rolls-Royce Avon engine was retained but built under license in Europe, Canada, and Japan. The E.E. Lightning now entered a development phase to further extend its range and armament options with the model letters  "G" denoting "Germany", the lead country for this version, while "S" indicated the improved "Sparrow" version for Italy. On 26 January 1966, the AMI chose the definitive Lightning F-2A(I)S as their future fighter, designed to carry AIM-7 Sparrow missiles on the belly tank pylons, two further underwing pylons able to carry 2 sidewinders or bombs on dual racks and finally two over wing pylons plumbed for fuel tanks or various bombs/missiles. The Lightning F-2A(I)S-ASA (Aggiornamento Sistemi d'Arma), developed in 1986, introduced a Fiar Setter radar, with 'look-down' capability and compatibility with the Selenia Aspide missile. AIM-9Ls were then used as the main armament, replacing the previous "B" and "F" version of this missile, One AIM-7 was usually carried on each belly tank pylon. In total, 147 of the F-2A(I)S airframes were converted to ASA standard at an expense of around 600 billion lire, the last ASA model was delivered in the early 1990s.
So That's the history, here's the pictures

Lightning F-2A(I)ASA "The Last Fighter," MM5936, 21˚ Stormo, 53˚ Gruppo.

(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/8981d556beddb29864edd9135551da9d.jpg)

(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/3545601665dc9038021ae7acc0114d1a.jpg)

(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/11c15b50faf961f3973eedbae25b3e00.jpg)

(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/c80575eb7460a16948d5ef2afc4c48b1.jpg)

(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/a6e77c8328811c13b9ddb7887b56d4a4.jpg)

Regards
Keith

Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: Tophe on June 27, 2014, 11:51:21 PM
This story is absolutely true, I confirm! ;)
(nice model, congratulations)
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: Volkodav on June 28, 2014, 12:03:35 AM
Very very nice
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: Brian da Basher on June 28, 2014, 03:01:29 AM
The blue tail and tiger nose art really make this baby pop!

Well done!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 28, 2014, 04:33:58 AM
Outstanding! :)
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 28, 2014, 04:35:41 AM
Keith, 2 questions:

Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: TallEng on June 28, 2014, 05:30:38 AM
Hallo Greg,
It's the Airfix F2A Kit in 1/72 and the decals are from cutting edge
(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae284/Tourjet/5af9920637cc2b20cabd317104e55402.jpg)
Though I think they were a "limited edition"

Regards
Keith
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 28, 2014, 05:40:33 AM
Ta - I wonder if anyone has done some of those decals in 1/48. ???  Off to do some searching.
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 28, 2014, 05:46:27 AM
That didn't take long - turns out I can get them if I find and buy a 1/48 Hasegawa F-104S Starfighter "Tiger Meet 1996":

(http://www.ipmsusa3.org/reviews/Kits/Aircraft/hasegawa_48_f104s-tm96/hasegawa_48_f104s-tm96_25_t.jpg)

or a set of 1/48 Cutting Edge F-104 Starfighter Special #1 decals:

(http://s3.amazonaws.com/fineartofdecalsimages/CED48042.jpg)
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: FAAMAN on June 28, 2014, 07:28:46 AM
Wonderful build, love this 'Frightening' kit from Airfix, a great concept and back story, well done!! 8)
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: kitnut617 on June 28, 2014, 09:28:31 PM
Awesome build Keith   :)
Title: Re: E.E. Lightning F2(I)ASA
Post by: Buzzbomb on June 29, 2014, 07:30:19 PM
Super!
That really does pop in that scheme