Monday, June 5

Preview: The feature set of Tamiya's 1/72nd scale F-35A Lightning II

Today we look at the feature set of Tamiya's 1/72nd scale F-35A Lightning II with the help of the built & painted test kit. Features & colours (grey) of the kit are all in our preview...

Preview: The feature set of Tamiya's 1/72nd scale F-35A Lightning II

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
Warbird Collection No.92
From Tamiya
Item No: 607921/72 
1/72nd scale
Length 218 mm / width 148 mm
Price: $32.30 USD from Hobbylink Japan
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
In addition to its excellent mobility, the F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation jet fighter that combines high stealth, network operation capabilities, and situational identification capabilities through sensor fusion. Simultaneous development of three variants took place: a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A for the Air Force, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B for the Marine Corps, and a carrier-borne (CV) F-35C for the Navy. The F-35A, which has been adopted by many countries (U.S. Air Force, Italian Air Force, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force), is expected to play an active role as the cornerstone of the air forces of Western countries.

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II from Tamiya in 1/72nd scale
This model kit from Tamiya pursues ease of assembly while maintaining the precision of a 1/48-scale model! It has been redesigned into parts division appropriate for 1/72 scale; the number of parts has been kept to less than half of the 1/48-scale version. Make no mistake, this kit is still loaded with detail and can reproduce this aircraft's "beast mode," bristling with weapons. A wide range of modelers, from beginners to advanced users, can enjoy this kit 
F-35A Lightning II plastic model assembly kit. Model Features:
-Total length 218mm, total width 148mm. 
-Faithfully modelled the aircraft shape with stealth RAM panels in correct scale thickness. 
-1/72nd scale kit with an ease of assembly with a number of parts suitable for scale. 
-RAM panels on the surface of the aircraft are from delicate convex moulds. 
-The cockpit and landing gear are also reproduced accurately. 
-"Beast mode" option, with weapons external load under the main wing can also be assembled. 
-The canopy opens and closes. 
-1 pilot figure (seated).
-Three marking choices for the aircraft included.
The canopy opens and closes. Fairing the Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the lower nose is included in fine detail.
A cockpit with the large LCD display with a touch panel type with a detailed ejection seat is included
The kit includes a sitting pilot wearing the HMD (helmet mount display).
The kit has a few weapons and ordinance options - either in stealth mode, with all weapons carried internally in the weapons bay....
For the “air-to-air mode” with AIM-9X side winders attached to the outer wing stations.
...Or with a full weapon's loadout, including AIM-9X sidewinder of the air-to-air missile and the GBU-12 paveway II of the laser guided bomb.
Force-filled “ Beast Mode ” with weapons load-out installed on all base-wing stations.
The wheel wells and internal bays are very detailed on this kit. Nothing could replicate the real life aircraft, but Tamiya are making an effort in this scale to try.
The afterburner nozzle is nicely detailed while keeping the parts count low.
The coating with radar wave absorbing material (RAM) applied to the entire aircraft is expressed in the delicate convex mould.
RCS enhancers or Luneberg reflectors increase the F-35's radar signature several hundred times over so that the aircraft can operate with normal ground traffic in a civilian setting. They are also shown here, with options to include or exclude them on your kit.
Painting and marking instructions are provided in full colour that is the same size as the kit to help with the decal's position  and make these easy to place. 
In addition to the one US Air Force aircraft, the markings are set by two Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces aircraft, with the frog and white-tailed worker unit marks eye-catching.
In addition to the nationality markings and the decals to suit each aircraft, we also see the mask seal for fairing canopies and EOTS sensors.
You can find out more about these releases on the Tamiya Website...