Struck by Lightning....

[mikeblaze]

This is it..... After being the slow kid on the block, and eight years of heartache, frequent stalls of work for roadblocks I couldn't get my head around, I finally started to tinker with Nick's models about a year ago. And since then, I have produced variants for the Skyhawk, Mirage F.1, and Phantom; plus more under wraps like the Harrier, Jaguar, and Tomcat.

Anyways, I took a sanity break from the Phantom last week, and started a new little project; and something wonderful happened. No roadblock stopped me, nothing I ran into I couldn't work my way through, and here you have it, another piece of British steel for the retro community.

I present the English Electric Lightning. This is about 99% done, just sorting out FDE and some master painting stuff. I have three main variant models done, F.1, F.2/F.6, and T series. These are LOD8 models, and have a lot of Nick Black influence in their design; but with a little originality of my own from painting, simming, and now modeling experience. I shamelessly borrowed Nick's pilot figure, but re-mapped it; so this is not totally mine yet, but the next project will be. Dependent on FDE and final beta-testing, this is planned to be released in the next month to six weeks. I have several other original projects in the works, but it is fitting that since Nick gave me the opportunity to push my learning over the top, that this one be the first published model.

[f4nutter]

my congratulation's to you Mike, that look's great i look forward to the finished article and future model's

[shaggy22]

Words fail me, they look excellent. nice one

[mikewmac]

This is it..... After being the slow kid on the block, and eight years of heartache, frequent stalls of work for roadblocks I couldn't get my head around, I finally started to tinker with Nick's models about a year ago. And since then, I have produced variants for the Skyhawk, Mirage F.1, and Phantom; plus more under wraps like the Harrier, Jaguar, and Tomcat.

Anyways, I took a sanity break from the Phantom last week, and started a new little project; and something wonderful happened. No roadblock stopped me, nothing I ran into I couldn't work my way through, and here you have it, another piece of British steel for the retro community.

I present the English Electric Lightning. This is about 99% done, just sorting out FDE and some master painting stuff. I have three main variant models done, F.1, F.2/F.6, and T series. These are LOD8 models, and have a lot of Nick Black influence in their design; but with a little originality of my own from painting, simming, and now modeling experience. I shamelessly borrowed Nick's pilot figure, but re-mapped it; so this is not totally mine yet, but the next project will be. Dependent on FDE and final beta-testing, this is planned to be released in the next month to six weeks. I have several other original projects in the works, but it is fitting that since Nick gave me the opportunity to push my learning over the top, that this one be the first published model.

Mike,

I have the beta version of the MPAI EE Lightning FDE about 95% done and will be sending it your way this week. I never realized the great performance these unique RAF birds had.

[MIKE JG]

Very cool!

[Firebird]

So is there anybody out there that wants to knock up a quick Binbrook scenery, or maybe Coltishall?

My guess it won't be long before there Chris and Menno do something German.

I guess it would also work with Akrotiri or Tengah, I seem to think that something was started for those places.

[miljan]

Amazing work Mike.


Miljan

[petebramley]

This is one retro model that will make it into my sim

congrats it looks great

[DaleRFU]

It looks very good. Thats three different lightnings that are being built now. Yours, Kevins and John for ACG. A large variety for sure.

[Garysb]

So is there anybody out there that wants to knock up a quick Binbrook scenery, or maybe Coltishall?

My guess it won't be long before there Chris and Menno do something German.

I guess it would also work with Akrotiri or Tengah, I seem to think that something was started for those places.

Steve dont forget Saudi


Gary

[Firebird]

... or Kuwait. Nope.

Of course one that I did forget could also use the MAIW enhancement treatment would be Leconfield as well which could used for the Sea King package as well. There are a lot of possibilities here for people that like retro stuff but don't want to mix it with current stuff.

[f47420]

OK .That's it I will have to get out the old tanktop ,flares .But I don't think there's enough hair for a mullet.

Mark........

[Firebird]

Awwww, Mark. I hadn't even got to Middleton St. George yet.

[f47420]

Don't tease Steve .I will have to go out for a very long walk in to the sunset .As master Shifu says "Focus Foucs ".LOL

Plus don't me started on Manston.............

Mark............

[Stewart Pearson]

Mike,

I have the beta version of the MPAI EE Lightning FDE about 95% done and will be sending it your way this week. I never realized the great performance these unique RAF birds had.

The $64,000 question Mike is...........................will you be able to reproduce the iconic Lightning take off as seen here?;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CDLbokf9sg

Would be stunning if it were possible.

[Victory103]

mikeblaze, can't wait to see what's in store for the other models listed...huge Tomcat fan.

Stewart, great vid, short and sweet, I can imagine yelling the same as the nose rockets skyward.

[Firebird]

Stu,
You don't want much out of the FS9 AI engine do you.

That I think is left to FSRecorder replays.

[Stewart Pearson]

Stu,
You don't want much out of the FS9 AI engine do you.

That I think is left to FSRecorder replays.

If you dont ask.....................................................

[mikewmac]

Mike,

I have the beta version of the MPAI EE Lightning FDE about 95% done and will be sending it your way this week. I never realized the great performance these unique RAF birds had.

The $64,000 question Mike is...........................will you be able to reproduce the iconic Lightning take off as seen here?;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CDLbokf9sg

Would be stunning if it were possible.

Stew,

Steve's correct that the FS9 AI engine prevents the vertical climbout, but I did recreate the relatively short takeoff roll. At the moment I have set its takeoff roll to ~2300' since I figured that its high performance ~1630' takeoff roll was probably only used in emergency scramble situations like we did with the VT ANG's F-102A "Deuces" back in the day.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find much definitive performance data for the EE Lightning on the internet, so to some extent I have had to extrapolate from my own knowledge of the USAF's "Century Series: fighters from the same era.

If anyone has any performance information on the EE Lightning such as typical takeoff and landing rolls, the latter with and without a drag chute, as well as rotation, cruise, approach and landing speeds, I'd love to get a copy.

I emailed my MPAI EE Lightning Beta FDE to Mike P. yesterday, so things are moving right along on his latest AI model.

Mike M.

[aljude]

Be great to see the old bird fly out of Binbrook again, with added Crash Gate 3 of course.... i spent most days there from 1984 untill its closure if 1988...
Wonderful days and a good crowd of regular spotters..