Model Alliance MA-72171: EE Lightning Part 3

Units: See Review

Price

 £10.00

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Thanks to the recent issue of the Trumpeter Lightning in 1/72 scale as well as the still nice Hasegawa and Airfix versions, we have another new sheet on an aircraft that many love to model. This particular sheet contains 11 options and covers a variety of schemes. Model Alliance decals have changed to a booklet style of instructions that are superbly printed and provide a separate page for each marking option. This allows everything to be in one place and also allows for some additional images to assist in placement. It also means that showing profiles of each option in a review is not possible so my apologies in advance.

The decals are superbly printed by Cartograf. This company seems to be the de facto printer of choice for a lot of aftermarket companies and kit manufacturers. Can't blame them as the work is first rate. The sheets contain serials for all and it looks like there are enough insignia to do at least three if not more of the RAF options as well as both Saudi and the Kuwaiti plane. Additional insignia are available if one wants to do them all. So what is on the sheet?

  • Lightning F.6, XP762/M of 111 Squadron, RAF Wattisham 1965
  • Lightning F.3, XR754/R of 111 Squadron, RAF Wattisham 1971 - Zapped with JG71 'Richtofen' zap
  • Lightning F.6, XS895 of Lightning Station Flight, RAF Leuchars 1976
  • Lightning T.5, XS449 of 226 OCU (145 Squadron), RAF Leuchars 1966 - Zapped with 74 Squadron Tiger
  • Lightning T.5, XS452 of Akrotiri Station Flight, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus during 1975 - Pink Tailed aircraft
  • Lightning F.3, XP763/P of 29 Squadron, RAF Wattisham 1969-74 - Zapped with 322 Sqn RNAF and EC.2.5 of the French Air Force
  • Lightning F.6, XR770/AA of 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook 1987 - - Red tail, spine and wings
  • Lightning F.53, 53-670/F of 13 Squadron, Royal Saudi Air Force, King Abdul Aziz AB, Dhahran in 1977 - Camouflaged scheme with Duck Egg Blue underside
  • Lightning F.53, 53-685 of 2 Squadron, Royal Saudi Air Force, King Abdul Aziz AB, Dhahran in 1970 - Standard silver aircraft
  • Lightning F.6, XR725/A of 23 Squadron, RAF Leuchars 1968 - Zapped with Air Canada markings during display at Toronto Air Show in Canada
  • Lightning F.53K, 53-414/F of Kuwait Air Force in 1970

    • The instruction booklet includes a list of available kits and conversion sets. This decal set is also available in 1/48 and will be produced in 1/32 as well once the Trumpeter kit hits the market.

    April 2009

    Review sheet courtesy of The Aviation Workshop

    If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.