EE Lightning P1.B Brass Plate – Nov 1958

Hello,

It has been a few years since any conversation has taken place in this chat.

However, I have been reading about Roland Beamont “Testing Years” and his work with Canberra for my research into the T17 variant.

I have always had an infinity with Lightning, sat in one as a kid at Bingley Hall Birmingham and always enjoyed watching them go vertical after take-off from Yeovilton. I have since learnt that XA847 achieved Mach 2 on the day I was born. And therefore was wondering if you still have the commemorative plaque and if so, could you send a better photo than the one available.

I have located the airframe, and I am currently trying to negotiate a viewing with the current owner, and hopefully can confirm your plaque’s original location.

Warm regards

Pics – Phantom, Tornado, Buccanneer

Gentlemen,
My thanks for taking the time to send your information
I’ve attached a few pictures of the other three aircraft by D P Carter. Undoubtedly cast and hand finished. The ‘signatures’ are all different but just slightly. Scale also varies, the Phantom is 24cms x 16cms, Tornado 24cms x 12.5cms, Buccanneer 19cms x 13.5cms. Metal type – Aluminium.

During my time I’ve seen a number of precision foundry specials given as retirement presents. The lost plastic (i.e. Airfix model) technique really did work well in place of the more conventional lost wax casting.

i did a spell in a foundry (pattern making ) etc , and it is not unkown for employees to cast thier own items in down time !!

you also do not mention the models size , if about 1/72 size there is always the possibility a matchbox or airfix lightning model was used for making the moulds !!

I can’t find anything on the web but from experience of the specialist model making industry it is most likely that DP Carter was the name of the pattern maker who made the master model which would have been used to make the moulds for the cast metal models that you have.

it depends on lettering type realy a photo of the lettering would probably help

if cast they are usualy pattern makers lettering wich will be uniform in appearance

if an aprentice piece lettering is usualy applied by die punching so lettering isn’t as uniform

i would go for it being a cast piece though it also depends on metal type how this was achieved

as there are difrent casting methods for difrent metals mainly according to the metals melting temperature !!

It would have been the obvious place for the Lightning given its historical relevance, but sadly ‘obvious’ is often overlooked is it not?
Many thanks for the information Black Knight.

I’m pretty sure that plaque was mounted to the fuselage below the cockpit of that P1B when it was at Hendon. Never understood why it wasn’t sent to Cosford to join the other prototypes.

Good evening SF,
Many thanks for that. The plaque is 6″ across so I wondered whether it was attached to the fuselage of XA847 or to a plinth alongside when on display. I’ll have to see if any pictures surface of that Aircraft on display at the RAF Museum.
Thanks again,
Ian

First Mach 2 P1 B

With out looking at any books etc from memory- The first “Lightning” to achieve mach 2 was XA847 with Bee at the controls. The aircraft eventually ended up in the RAF museum with its modified fin. As it was never in Squadron service it was decided in 1988 to replace it with a standard 11 squadron aircraft XS925 BB. XA847 was taken apart- not cut – and i think was sold to a private collector in Suffolk. I guess the plaque was in the cockpit- hope this helps regards SF

I can’t find anything on the web but from experience of the specialist model making industry it is most likely that DP Carter was the name of the pattern maker who made the master model which would have been used to make the moulds for the cast metal models that you have.