Airfix 1/72 English Electric Lighting F.2A Interceptor Jet Scaled Plastic Model Kit

The F.2A, introduced in 1962 and much modified in 1968, features a square-cut fin, kinked leading edges, and an enlarged ventral tank which gave an enhanced combat air patrol time of some 2 hours.

Entering RAF squadron service in 1960, the Lightning represented a quantum leap in capability and performance over previous interceptor jets, offering Mach 2+ performance and a phenomenal rate of climb. Until its retirement in the 1980s, the Lightning had few rivals for outright speed and climbing ability, though it was hampered by short range and a poor selection of armaments. Replaced by the Tornado F3, the Lightning remains the ultimate Cold War interceptor.