With a splash of red. - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

Joining with this kit, bought 2004 from an IPMS colleague for £4.99.

The only one allowed a splash of colour

I've just looked at the instructions.  How has such an uninspiring aircraft become so successful?

And as a compliment to this, I'm building a Revell X-32 JSF in the Project Cancelled GB.

 

[Wings unlevel]

3 hours ago, theplasticsurgeon said:

How has such an uninspiring aircraft become so successful?

Did you see the competition? 🤣 Nice choice, the X-35B was quite consequential in winning the JSF program, due to its demonstrated ability to fly supersonic after a short takeoff and then land vertically.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Parts,

and decals.

 

[Wings unlevel]

Looks a nice straight forward build if the fit is ok.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Cockpit and seat preparation.

And installed into the upper fuselage part.

[Wings unlevel]

Great progress. Interesting to see what I assume was Italeri’s best guess of what the cockpit and IP looked like.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Today I joined the fuselage halves , and fitted the fins.

Looking like a Lightning II.

 

[Wings unlevel]

It does, and for looks pretty good?

[theplasticsurgeon]

Canopy fitted.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Airbrushed Humbrol 126 nose and underside, 

then a contrasting but not tooo dark 106 upper surfaces. 

[Wings unlevel]

Looking really good. Very nice and smooth paint application. 

[Ol' Scrapiron]

I hope my shots of the real thing displayed in the Udvar-Hazy can serve as reference/inspiration as yo approach the finish line

 

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Hope these help in some way.

Looking forward to seeing more of your build

 

 

 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Thanks @Ol' Scrapiron for those photos.   Clarifies a few areas for me.

Like the canopy frame - missing from the kit.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Canopy restyled

And the flash of red.

[Wings unlevel]

Looking ace. 🤣 Seriously, looking good.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Decals.  There are some leftovers, which careful scrutiny of @Ol' Scrapiron's photos don't have either.

 

[Wings unlevel]

Nice! Home straight now. 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Undercarriage fitted.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Completion.

[Wings unlevel]

Looks terrific! And very appropriate that the first completed build in the gallery is the X-35B, the success of which was critical to the X-35's selection over Boeing's X-32.

 

Thanks for building it here!