The Lightning was a high performance supersonic interceptor designed to defend Britain against nuclear armed bombers. They began entering service in 1960 and were phased out between 1974 and June 1988.

The Lightning F.3 was a development of earlier versions of the Lightning.

It had improved radar, more powerful engines and could be armed with the new Red Top missiles, but its cannon armament was removed.

As a result of the more powerful engines it was given a larger, clipped tail.

The first F.3 flew on 16 June 1962 and 70 were manufactured.

A further 16 F.3As, externally similar to the later F.6, were also made.

The F.3 saw a short service life, due to cut backs in British defence spending and because they were soon replaced by the more advanced Lightning F.6s which had an improved performance.

This model represents Lightning F.3 XP763 of 23 Squadron, RAF in 1965

Trumpeter 1/72 kit with Xtradecal decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in December 2014.