Since there are so many options I thought I would start by taking off all the parts I wouldn’t be using from the sprues to avoid confusion later on.

The main sprue has the closed flaps removed and the slots for the under wing ordnance openedIf you look very carefully you will see the fully extended air brake piston and arrestor hook missing from this one. More flaps missing here, the rocket pods, the uncompressed wheels, and the inserts for the ends of the open wings.

The lightning T55 was only ever sold as an export model to a couple of Middle east countries. The UK trainer version was the T5, which was significantly different. having a different sized belly tank, and different wings. There are (Or were) aftermarket kits available to convert it to a UK T5 but that runs counter to My philosophy of building out of the box as much as possible, and would turn this from a cheap and cheerful kit int an expensive monster. However My criteria is to build BRITISH jets, and to Me that requires that I can, legitimately, display it with RAF roundels. For this reason I almost didn’t buy this kit, despite it being so cheap on EBAY. But, whilst researching for options (And desperately wanting to include a two seat lightning in the “Trainers” collection) I came across a fascinating history of the Saudi Aircraft depicted as one of the options in this kit. This is the same aircraft that beloved and I saw many moons ago whilst visiting the Midland Air museum during a holiday in Kenilworth. Reading up on the history of this particular aircraft in an effort to convince Myself it met with My criteria I discovered that it had in fact been restored to it’s Saudi livery by the museum from it’s temporary RAF livery. The story goes that a number of aircraft were re imported in 1986 as part of a deal to sell Tornado’s to the Saudi Air Force and, whilst here, were loaned back to the RAF by BAE, this one being re-registered as ZF598. And just to prove it, here is a picture of the self-same aircraft before its facelift

Jobs a good’un ZF598 it is.
Now if I can just figure out what insignia and idents were on the wings…
(Incidentally, looking back through the Midland Air Museum photo’s I’m reminded that they have a Sea Vixen on display. maybe I should change My plans and model that version instead…)

Where to start with the options on the Sea Vixen. Probably with the colour scheme. As well as its service as a Naval fighter the Sea Vixen also enjoyed a multiplicity of other roles including refuelling, target towing and various testing roles, all of which have led to a positive frenzy of colourful schemes, as you can see.

However most of these are too bright and “Lairy” for My liking in this larger scale, and the prospect of trying to mask and paint those hazard stripes on some of the schemes, frankly, gives Me the collywobbles. However, one colour scheme I would love to do is this.

I first saw the red bull sponsored Sea Vixen at Goodwood I think, and it was an impressive sight. However no one makes decals for this aircraft and I certainly could not reproduce those logo’s with any degree of accuracy. Curiously that self-same aircraft, in it’s latest livery, replicating a Royal Navy aircraft is one of the four options provided for in the kit decals. All in the same white/Dark Grey colour scheme. However, as with the Vampire T11 this preserved aircraft has a paucity of stencilling, which, fiddly and time-consuming as it is to apply really livens up a model for Me. So, that leaves Me with three variants based on actual aircraft of the time. One is easily dismissed, the version on the box top is initially attractive with it’s “Sharks mouth” But the flower power petals on the tailplane are hideous. That only leaves two, and the real difference between them is ordnance, one being kitted out with missiles, the other with rocket launchers. Looking at the parts in the kit I don’t like the look of the rocket launchers and a little research online highlights that they are just, plain, wrong. (Apparently the rocket heads should not protrude). I have nicer rocket launchers left over from the Hawker Hunter build, but, again, research tells Me that these are the wrong type too. So, That’s the paint and decal scheme reduced to one choice!

Next some fairly obvious choices, wheels down, to stand the model on, canopies open, to display the wealth of internal detail. air brakes and flaps extended (Or half extended with the airbrake, fully open it lifts the wheels off the ground apparently), just to show them off. The arrester hook I have yet to decide on, probably retracted, to avoid damage. The wheel doors present a conundrum, they are of the “Cycling” variety, in that they open, the wheels extend, then they close again to protect the bays and prevent fouling. This will obscure some of the wheel bay detail, and as they could be opened on the ground for maintenance I could almost justify them being open, but it doesn’t feel quite right, so, closed it will be. Finally, the wings, to fold or not to fold?. Folded would add interest, show off the lovely mouldings provided of the folding mechanicals, and take up less display space. But, and it’s a big but, it would spoil the lines of the model, and I want to see the flow of the fuselage into the wings, so it’s unfolded for Me.
It will be interesting to see if these choices make it through to the end of the build.

To accompany the Sea vixen I have gone all nostalgic with the Matchbox Lightning T55. I remember as a youngster when Matchbox first entered the plastic kit scene with their multi-coloured kits with recessed panel lines rather than the rows of “Rivets” we were used to. They seemed so fresh and new. However this kit looks very old, I vaguely remember building one many, many years ago, Today it feels a very crude kit, I can see some work being needed to add some of the refinements of modern kits, but, more of that as the build progresses.

Again, as you see from the box an EBay purchase The main fuselage parts Wings And all the small pieces some very simple instructions And some rather worn looking decals

Now the Vampires are finished time to think about what to build next. I was tempted to do the Classic Airframes Venom, which would be a logical progression, but this feels too much like the same build over again. So I have elected to leap to the end of this particular line of aircraft and go with the Airfix Sea Vixen.

As you can probably tell from the state of the box this is another EBay purchase. Three main sprues inside, First the main fuselage and wing components The booms and tailplanes Lots of detail pieces And some very clear transparent parts Comprehensive instructions (Already with hand written notes) A large colour scheme sheet (2 options each side And lots of decals.