Hi everyone,
I'm trying to find a copy of the book: English Electric Lightning- Birth of a Legend, Vol 1, by Stewart Scott. I've searched using the ISBN number and on line booksellers in the UK, tried contacting Mr. Scott personally and left an e-mail with the Lightning Association, all without success. If anyone in the UK knows a source, please let me know.
BRG,
Jon

Here is info I found at lightning.org.uk

ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING, VOLUME 1 - BIRTH OF THE LEGEND
Author - Stewart Scott
Publisher - GMS Enterprises First published - 2000
ISBN - 1 870384 78 4 (hardback)
The Lightning Bible - the first of three volumes of what will be the reference history of the Lightning. Volume 2 is currently being written and should be out in early 2004, then Volume 3 will follow. Expensive, but worth every penny. These books go into a degree of detail about Lightning construction, development and service which is never likely to be surpassed. Many high-quality diagrams and photographs, mainly black and white, but some in colour.

Volume One is a 365-page hardback (roughly A4 size) containing over 400 photographs and drawings, many never seen before. Contents include design and development (up to the F.3), test flying with Rolls-Royce and Boscombe Down, armament, experimental projects and individual aircraft histories for prototypes, DB a/c, F.1, F.1A, F.2 and T.4. The work of the various squadrons and units is covered in some detail, closing at the end of 1965.

Price £35, and now available only from the author.

Stewart Scott,
Lyndale,
48 Ryland Road,
Dunholme,
Lincoln.
LN2 3NE
United Kingdom
Tel: 01673 862457


Sounds an excellent book on a plane we all miss greatly,
Good luck,
Harry

Hi Harry,
That's the site I found the book info also. I wrote to Mr. Scott but never got a reply, so tomorrow, if I can figure out how to make an international phone call to the UK, I'll try to call him as he seems to be my only hope. Vol 2 is out, and as the site says it's expensive at around 75 pounds sterling, about $150, but at least it's available, for now.
By the time I save up enough for Mick Reeves model, I'll at least have all the reference material! And hopefully by then the exchange rate will be a little better!
Thanks,
Jon

The key thing about dialing the UK from the US, is that you need to drop the leading zero in the UK number, in addition to dailing the international prefix and the country code. Since his number is listed as 01673 862457, you need to call 011 44 1673 862457

Good luck,
Gordon

P.S. - for additional Lightning info, don't forget http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co...ing/index.html

Also, IIRC Mike Beachyhead in South Africa has several full scale lightnings - so if you get stuck, maybe Andre Baird or one of the other Cape Town folks could help you with taking any pics that you are unable to find elsewhere.

Hi Gordon,
Thanks for the info about calling the UK. I'll try tomorrow. I would love to get a ride in one, but $11,000 plus airfare to South Africa is a little to steep for me!
I bought the book on the Ligtning from SAM publications, it's great as far as color and markings, but devotes a lot of pages to the prototypes, which I feel could have been better used by detailing the production models. Also doesn't have a lot of pictures of the cockpit, other than a P1A, which is a preproduction aircraft and the cockpit is very different than the production models. There are just drawings from a manual. The two sites that are mentioned fill in all the detail, though it would've been nice to have included pictures in the book.
Thanks again for the info.
BRG,
Jon

Jon,

Ian Black (ex-Lightning pilot) published a couple of good, mainly picture, books on the Lightning - might be worth a look. Also, I have a load of photographs of the ex-Saudi F53 that's now at Carlisle Airport (incidentally, the last Lightning to be test flown by Roland Beamont), showing lots of detail of the airframe, except for the top surfaces. I could scan and send them if they would be of use (although, bear in mind that the F-53 was basically a Mk 6 with a big belly tanks and squared off fin and Mick's model is a Mk 1 - ie., sharp tip fin and small belly tank).

Cheers,

Dick
England

Try going direct to the publisher, they are still showing it the list of available titles:
www.aviationbooksbygms.com
www.aviationbooksbygms.com/Lightning.html

Harry

A couple of piccies for you!

Jon,

Sent you a PM

Scott

Hi everyone,
I want to give a followup on my book search. I talked to Stewart Scott yesterday and the book has been sold out for about 18 months. It was a limited run and most were sold to people that had a close association with the Lightning, and it's too new to be on the secondary market so it looks like I'm not going to be able to get a copy.
Oh well, I got Vol 2.
I want to thank all the people who took the time to respond to my post, I really appreciate your help and information.
BRG,
Jon