I'm looking to do a couple of post war jets (in 1/72 scale) for a change and fancied the Hawker Hunter and English Electric Lightning. I was in a model shop earlier today looking at the Revell Hunter mk6 and Trumpter Lightning (mk6 also possibly). I could look in the box of the Lightning and it looked like a nice kit and on the box of the Hunter it said new tooling etc. Can anyone comment on these kits or point me in the direction of reviews of these kits? Is there any better kits of these planes out there? In particular for the Lightning as I noticed the Trumpeter kit is pricey for a 1/72 fighter,
I want a nice straight forward build with good parts fit and nice exterior detailing (like recessed panel lines).

thanks
Mike

Hi Michael

buy the Revell kit without hesitation. It is a nice kit and I have heard much good of it. IIRC it has a small issue with the tooth in the leading edge, but I do not remember what exactly the problem was (as written in the other thread, 72 is just not my scale).

The Trumpeter kit has a pretty serious shape issue in the jet pipe area. I am not sure if there is an after market set already. But some also stated that you can live with it ... IIRC the next "best" thing is the very very old Hasegawa recently reissued by Revell.

I hope you will get more and better info from the specialists, but this is my 2€ct

all the best

Steffen

I agree get the Revell Hunter as for the Trumpter Lightning it's a bit too expensive for my taste some say the rear fuselage and exhuast are a fundamental flaw, so much so the Odds and Ordanace have released a correction set set for it which would add another £5.50 on top of the price of the kit.

Hope this helps

Thanks - that is a big help. Does anyone know what the Hasegawa and Revell Lightning kits are like in 1/72?

thanks
Mike

You can have a look at the Hasegawa(Revell) parts and the Frog(also reissued by Revell in 1999) parts here

http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Revell/Rev_BAC_Lightning/Rev_BAC_Lightning.html

both are 1960ies kits....

all the best

Steffen

I have the Revell Hunter MK.6 and it's a nicely detailed kit with a nice fit and decals for UK (2 versions, one is shown on the box and you have to paint the yellow areas), Belgium and Netherlands (1 version each), all with the same camo scheme. Ordnance is not provided, but you will find underwing tanks for all versions and Sidewinders for the Dutch one.
Also included in the box are the parts to make a Mk.9 version (tail exhaust with chute container and different antennas), which has been released by Revell as a different kit with UK and Swiss decals. Aftermarket decals for both versions are available for many different countries, also with nice different camos. The only thing that should be replaced for a better finesse is the pitot tube on the left wing, but I left it as it was.
Here is how it came out
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/forums/138750#1158082

The price is reasonable too.
No idea about the Lightnings released by Trumpeter...

Matchbox released two Lightning kits (back in the 70s, IIRC). One was an F.2/6 and the other was a T.55 (Kuwaiti trainer variant).

It looks like i'll buy the Revell Hunter - so to confirm first - the Mk 6 and Mk 9 versions are essentially the same kit?
As for the Lightning - which is the best overall kit out there in people's opinions? The Revell and Hasegawa remind me of old airfix kits and the Trumpeter has shape issues but otherwise looks nice - is there any other better options?

thanks
Mike