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Very challenging and fun build on the Kitty Hawk F-35B STOVL Marine Corps Lightning. I started about eight months ago did a ton of research to find the most detailed photos. The aircraft has allot of openings so it only seems right to pay attention to the detail in each area. To give detail but not over do it. Also allot of research and test swatches on the paint. RAM panels overall paint scheme has to be very sharp it’s a challenge for the most seasoned modeller as the aircraft has not been in service that long and even carrier Ops show minimal weathering. The engine and aft underside seems to take the brunt of the weathering. I bashed the hell out of this kit replacing or reworking the engine, rear rudders, leading edge spoilers, wing flaps, vertical stabilizers, landing gear, wheels, cockpit and decals. Lots of wiring and hydraulics added to the landing gear, weapons and landing gear bay. The kit is fair at best the surface detail on the main body upper and lower portion is there but that’s about it. Biggest challenge was the lack of any detail on that gorgeous rotating exaust nozzel Lockheed Martin designed found great photos to work from. If you have any questions on the build paint colours, PE add on kits please feel free to contact me.

PM Model from Turkey has just reboxed the Italeri 1/72nd Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II kit - ref. PM505 Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pmmodels/permalink/2249457395290916/ V.P.

KittyHawk is to release in 2014 its first three 1/72nd aircraft kits. The subject will be the Lockheed-Martin F-35A/B & C Lightning II - ref. KH16101, KH16102 & KH16103. Source: http://s406.photobucket.com/user/KAGNEW-71-73/library?view=recent#/user/KAGNEW-71-73/library/?view=recent&page=1&_suid=1389484782947017453412055238093 The 1/72nd Lightning II kits released or on approach... - F-35A : Italeri, Academy, Hasegawa, KittyHawk - F-35B : Fujimi, KittyHawk - F-35C : Orange Hobby, KittyHawk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KH16101 - LM F-35B Lightning II - Marine Corps short-take off and vertical-landing (STOVL) KH16102 - LM F-35A Lightning II - conventional take off and landing (CTOL) KH16103 - LM F-35C Lightning II - Navy Version carrier-based CATOBAR (CV) V.P.

Hello colleagues, this time I would like to share with you about my elaborate building F-35I by Italeri 1/32 I have a complete etch set from Eduard for the kit. I made the cables in the chassis shafts and bomb bays of lead wires of different diameters. I am currently repairing the nozzle because the kit is really terrible. I use the etchings of my own design, which I lay on myself to create the characteristic look of the nozzle. Perhaps you will like the building

Your answer is valuable.

I don't know if this question has been raised on Z5 before, but I am looking for the "right" model colours to paint my F-35A model. I prefer enamels, so Xtracolor or Humbrol references would be great. I have a copy of the T.O. for RNoAF (that is Norwegian) F-35s. This specify FS 36170 for the general colour and FS 36375 for markings (national insignia etc.) It also lists FS 36270, but does not say where this colour should be used. For the general colour, Italeri says this should be FS 36118, but this cannot be true as photos of the F-35 in formation with F-16 show that the F-35 is more brownish. Hasegawa does not specify a FS colour for their kit, but refers to Gunze / Mr. Hobby. For the "secondary colour" (the zigzag lines etc.), Hasegawa specifies FS 36270 and their decal sheet also has the stripes matched to this. It might be that this is the "mystery" colour from the Norwegian T.O. However, FS 36270 appears too light, however, when compared to the base colour. Any suggestions for a good reference colour? Nils

Hi. everybody! Let me present you my next model. It's build practically just from box, but some self-made details and ready etched set (Eduard) were added.

Altough I have BigE on the table i decided to start another model during holidays. This time I moved away from ships and straships and chosed Italeri F-35A Lightning II in 1/72 scale. Here's few pictures of box and it's content Box Two bigger sprues ( A & B )and little one (C) with clear parts. Decals Instructions Model will be out of the box without any aftermarket. I choosed Gunze aqua colors and I am not really a modern aircraft expert (or any aircraft ) so i decided to trust Italeri's color hints I hope you will like it, more pictures soon

Hi Everyone, This was my first visit to RIAT and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My wife and I were going to go to a different airshow, but decided we would try RIAT out. As soon as the show finished, I said to my wife that I would like to go again next year especially as the theme is 75th anniversary of the USAF. I hope they bring the big bombers over including the B-2. I couldn't believe how many members went to the airshow this year, I wonder if I saw any of you without realising it. My wife and I were sat to the right of the P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft all day and had a great view of all of the displays. Anyway I'll let my photos do the talking. Comments are welcome, if anyone would like to know what gear I used I can get the specs off the gear and put them up here tomorrow. F-16 Greek Air Force - Team Zeus on runway Red Arrows , F-35B Lightning II and 2 x Typhoon F-22 Raptor Red Arrows Wildcat F-35B Lightning IIFF-35B Lightning II Ramex Delta - Mirage 2000N Chinook V-22 Osprey (Static) F-16 Belgian Air Force - Tiger Meet F-16 Turkish Air Force 'Solo Turk' F-16 Polish Air Force Patrouille Suisse Breitling Wing Walkers MiG-29 Fulcrum Polish Air Force A400M Atlas Dassault Rafale Another F-16 I have lots of photos (I took over 800 in total) and edited 160 which are in the album these come from. Here is a link to the full album of 160 photos on photobucket : http://s1117.photobucket.com/user/mrpaddy1/library/RIAT%202016 If anyone has any further pictures of the planes that were at the airshow they would like to see, please leave a post and I'll see if I have any photos. Comments are welcome. All the best, Rick

Hi Guys, I will be building a 1/48 Hasegawa Saab Draken. The box is the special version of the Austrian version. I will build it in the colours of a Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-35 Draken. This is the Ground attack version.I have some extra parts to go with it. Here are the goodies that will be used: Aires set 4374 J35F/J cockpit set Aires set 4390 Draken reconnacance conversion Eduard set FE417 J35 zoom set Finemolds set AC-90 Pitot tubes & AOA probes in metal Maestro set K4804 Jettisonable tanks x 2 Maestro set K4806 Jettisonable tanks x 2 Maestro set K4827 Danish Pylons x 6 (not arrived jet) Maestro set MMK4834 Saab WDNS Draken nose Maestro set MMD4803 decals for some Danish Drakens Quickboost QB48188 Air scoops Let the pictures talk. The box. And the spues. And now the extra goodies. And the decals used. As it is not recommended to do a party model, I will use some of the decals of this sheet to make a ground attack version. And the last two pictures are for the Hasegawa armament set's that I am going to use for the bombs and Bullpulp rockets. I have also ordered a set of danish pylons. That I will pick up next week at a friend. Cheers, p.s. just found out that the after market tanks are the wrong ones. I have ordered a new set.

Chinese new brand? Shenzhen M-Legend is working on a new 1/72nd Lockheed-Mart F-35 Lightning II kit - ref. Sources: http://m-legend.com/cp_detail.php?cl=cp&topid=45359&id=13026165&nowmenuid=20001627&ppid=&cpath=45359:&catid=45359 http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=286736 Some people suggest Shenzhen M-Legend might have been the Fujimi subcontractor http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57172-fujimi-72nd-f-35b/?hl=fujimi V.P.

Bought this kit for a couple of months and after almost finishing the hasegawa EF2000, it would be interesting to see how this kit stands up against others. I elected to begin construction with the cockpit. There are only five main parts and they were glued and primed in a couple minutes. Sorry for the lack of photos, I just figured out how to add photos to my posts.

Phew, just returned back to the South West after an extended and unbelievably busy week in Rosyth and Edinburgh. What an experience: the pinnacle of my professional career (so far) and honestly, I am still bursting with pride and to cap it all I encountered the legendary Eric Brown as he stepped off the VIP bus and headed to his seat - my all time personal hero and possibly the most deserving VIP there (apart from HM of course). The ship looked fantastic, she utterly dwarfed the equally fantastic looking ILLUSTRIOUS, and the vast number of genuinely interested and knowledgeable kids at the ceremony bodes very well for the future of UK engineering (I was manning a stand and they certainly kept us on our toes!). Everyone attending received the obligatory "gizzet" bag which included a superb "lego-style" kit of the ship; we built one on the stand (its very small, but actually quite complicated) and I fully intend to have mine on my website soon and in attendance at the next Yeovilton model show!!!! No F-35, RN Historic Flight, Seafire or Sea Vixen because of the decidedly dodgy weather (having attended the rehearsal on Thursday my expectations were high), but I fully expect the F-35 at Fairford next weekend! FredT FLY NAVY

Hasegawa is to release a 1/72nd Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II kit. Seen at the All Japan Model & Hobby Show 2013 Source: http://happy.ap.teacup.com/applet/runchickens/msgcate19/archive?b=20 V.P.

F-35B photo etch detail sets for Fujimi kit 1:72 Eduard Owners of Fujimi's F-35B will no doubt be happy to see the release of these upgrade sets from Eduard. This is because while the Japanese manufacturer's curious kit is exquisitely detailed in some areas (engine, surface details, bomb bay) it is quite spartan in others (cockpit, landing gear). I'm actually halfway through building my kit, so where possible I'm going to comment on the fit of the parts as well as the usual comments on content and quality. F-35B Interior Set The first set is comprised of two frets. The first is a self-adhesive, pre-painted set that includes parts, while the second contains plain brass parts. Both sets are dedicated solely to the cockpit, which probably gives you a good idea of how plain the kit parts are. On the pre-painted fret are parts for the F-=352s large Multi-Functional Display instrument panel, side consoles, side walls and the ejector seat. The printing looks pretty good, but I'm not convinced that any amount of etch will really help the kit's ejector seat! The other glitch is that the parts for the side consoles are far too wide for the plastic parts, meaning you have to fold them first. This is tricky with pre-painted self-adhesive parts as they stick to the folding tool. Also, the paint has a tendency to flake off, leaving you to touch things up with a fine brush afterwards. The overall effect is pretty pleasing once complete though. On the unpainted set are parts for the floor of the cockpit, including new rudder pedals, and the structure behind the pilot's head, which has to be cut away in order that the replacement parts can be fitted. Parts for the inside of the canopy framing are also included, including the strip which runs cross the span of the canopy on the inside. It will take a modeller with nerves of steel to fit the latter part, as it runs the risk of completely stuffing up the excellent kit canopy. F-35B Interior Set (Zoom) This set contains the first fret from the full interior set reviewed above. Given the risks associated with much of the second fret, this would seem to be a sensible purchase for many modellers. F-35B Exterior Set This set contains a host of parts for the rest of the airframe. Various extra details are provided for the landing gear and landing gear bays, including some rather nice-looking hydraulic lines, scissor links and wheel hubs. Details for the inside faces of the landing gear bays are also included. Some of the larger parts on this fret include the flame holder for the engine afterburner and parts for the lift fan intake, exhaust and the lift fan itself. Conclusion These are both excellent sets from Eduard and they will make a real difference to the basic kit. A little cutting and folding will be required, but the end result should be worth it. If your budget won't stretch to the full sets, then the interior zoom set will make a more than adequate compromise. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

While clearing up the shed I found this old'un, made way back when I still used enamel paints. This would have been one of my first goes at a 1/48 jet (and one of the few I have finished - I seem to run out of steam with them). The canopy was a right mess after storage- almost opaque. Couldn't clean the clag off so I was brave and tried varying grades of wet'n'dry and a final polish with a manicure buffer, and to my surprise it worked. I was thinking of stripping her down and re-painting her as an RAAF machine - what do folk think? Thanks for looking.

Been fortunate this week to be out at Eglin afb taking photos of the F-35 and the training and maintenance facility, was pretty awesome finally being able to see the aircraft upload including the 3 British Aircraft, BK1, BK2, and BK3 (which I have dubbed Blackadder, Baldrick and Bob) and the Dutch aircraft AN1, cant post everything but they said it was ok to post a selection, so here ya go, hope you like em

Oh dear, looks like yet another set-back. "The Pentagon on Friday suspended the flights of all 51 F-35 fighter planes after a routine inspection revealed a crack on a turbine blade in the jet engine of an F-35 test aircraft in California. It was the second grounding of the warplane in two months and marked another setback for the $396 billion (259.7 billion pounds) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the Pentagon's biggest weapons program. The program has already been restructured three times in recent years and may face further cutbacks if Congress does not avert major budget reductions due to take effect on March 1. The F-35 program office said it was too early to know if this was a fleet-wide issue, but it was suspending all flights until an investigation was completed. A total of 51 F-35 jets were affected, including 17 that are being used for testing and 34 in use for training in Florida and Arizona. It said it was working closely with Pratt & Whitney, the United Technologies Corp unit that builds the engine, and Lockheed Martin Corp, the prime contractor for the radar-evading warplane, to ensure the integrity of the engine and return the F-35 fleet to flight as soon as possible. The Pentagon's F-35 program office began notifying the chiefs of the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps late on Thursday about the engine issue and decision to ground the planes, said Kyra Hawn, a spokeswoman for the program office. She said that a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base in California on February 19 revealed a crack on a low pressure turbine blade that is part of the F-35's F135 engine. The blade was on an F-35 A-model, or Air Force variant, which takes off and lands from conventional runways. Pratt spokesman Matthew said the inspection showed "an indication of a crack" on the third stage low pressure turbine airfoil. He said the company was working closely with the Pentagon, Lockheed and the military services to get the planes flying again. Engineering teams are removing the turbine blade from the plane and plan to ship it to Pratt's engine facility in Middletown, Connecticut, for more thorough evaluation and root cause analysis, according to the Pentagon and Pratt. Hawn said an initial analysis was expected next week. The grounding comes on the heels of a nearly month-long grounding of the Marine Corps variant of the new warplane after a manufacturing defect caused a fuel line to detach just before a training flight in Florida. The Marine Corps variant of the F-35, which takes off from shorter runways and lands like a helicopter, was grounded for nearly a month after a fuel line detached just before a training flight at Eglin Air Force Base in January. That issue was later found to be caused by a manufacturing defect. The Pentagon and the U.S. Navy lifted flight restrictions on the B-model of the plane on February 13." Link: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/22/uk-lockheed-fighter-idUKBRE91L11J20130222