Airfix F-35B Lightning II QuickBuild (J6040)

[Mike]

F-35B Lightning II QuickBuild (J6040)

Airfix

 

 

Starting life as the Joint-Strike Fighter (JSF) project, this multi-national project for the 5th generation of (relatively) cheap fighter, with optional VTOL/STOVL capabilities soon morphed into a less-than cheap option that caused much gnashing of teeth, exits of participants, fisticuffs over access to software source code and lamenting of the loss of the Harrier that one of its variants was to replace.  The UK hastily withdrew its Harriers, leaving a capability gap that is only just beginning to be filled at time of writing by the new F-35B that is the variant with the controversial lift-fan and single vectored thrust engine in the rear.  Many a paragraph has been written on the pros and cons of this method compared to the proven Rolls Royce Pegasus engine, but we won’t go into it here.  The US Marines are also using the B, while the A and C variants are land-based and carrier-based respectively, neither type having the vertical capabilities of the B.  The C has larger wings plus enhanced fuel and weapons capabilities, launching via the traditional catapult and recovering on arrestor wires.  The A is the nimblest, the C the most capable, while the B falls somewhere between the two with its own pros and cons.

 

The Kit

This is a new Quickbuild kit from Airfix’s fun range that provides access to realistic-looking models without the need for tools other than perhaps a pair of tweezers to accurately place the stickers.  This is a new tooling with 38 parts, and arrives in one of Airfix’s orange boxes with a hanging-loop included in the top should the retailer wish to display them on a carousel.  Inside are two bags of parts in tough ABS plastic with the smoked clear parts in the smaller second bag, a sheet of stickers and an A3 fold-out instruction sheet printed in colour on both sides.  The parts are in three colours with grey for the majority of the airframe, black for the cockpit, tyres and exhaust, and white for the three landing gear legs.  Two traditional sprues carry some of the smaller parts in grey, the black wheels are on a small tree, as is the targeting glazing under the nose.

 

 

 

Construction begins with the lower fuselage, which is supplied as front and rear halves, then the lower wings and upper wings are added around the mid-point, with the latter best joined together before being pressed into the fuselage.  The canopy and cockpit are inserted into the open lower nose, then the upper nose is pressed into place over the top, giving the canopy a blended look, as per the real thing.  The first of the pivoting parts are clipped into slots in the lower aft fuselage, representing the doors that open to allow the exhaust to swivel downwards for hovering.  Above them, the two exhaust halves are dropped into the open rear fuselage on a transverse axle that allows it to pivot later.  The vertical(ish) fins have the aft fuselage area moulded-in and these trap the nozzle in place, then the horizontal fins are clipped to the fairings projecting around the exhaust, while the lift fan door and clamshell intake behind the cockpit are all clipped into position and remain operable.  The underside can either be fitted out with landing gear, bay doors and lift fan exhaust in the open position for hovering, or with the gear left off and separate closed bay and exhaust doors for horizontal flight.  Each closed door has a small tab to one edge that permits the owner to flip them out of what would otherwise be a tricky position.  It’s a great idea that is well executed, but the spare parts are likely to get lost over time if your child is anything like mine, so bear that in mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markings

The stickers provide you with a choice of a US Marine airframe, or a generic RAF version with a set of roundels and fin-flashes, both in lowviz style.  I decided to use the American stickers to subvert your expectations and because there are more of them, and therefore give the most visual interest.  As usual with these stickers, be careful not to scratch them when applying them to the model, as they are easily damaged.

 

 

 

Conclusion

A good-looking model that lives up to the Quickbuild moniker.  The choice of stickers is nice, as are the two flight-mode options with the inevitable loose parts that might get lost.  The shape of the aircraft is growing on me as time goes by, and my son was very pleased to add it to his collection.  His face lit up the other day when I told him it had arrived for review.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[francis van iterson]

nice to see how the modeling world has grown in the last 40 years. I would have liked this as a birthday present in the past. the models are getting better and nowadays you can already 3D print from home.