Tamiya Lockheed Martın F-35A Lightning II - 1/48 – RAAF 3 Squadron
Hello all and welcome to my latest build. The Tamiya F35A Lightning II, dressed up in RAAF No. 3 Squadron colours. The version depicted in this kit is serial number A35-009, flown by Wing Commander Darren "Clarey" Clare, who was the first RAAF F-35 pilot.
This has been in the making since July this year making this my longest project so far. The build is 99.9% OOB. I used a set of Metallic Details cockpit seat belts upgrade, as the kit version was just a little underwhelming for my taste. My greatest achievement with this kit (and the greatest challenge) was the use of magnets for the weapons load!
The kit calls out for 3 weapons options:
- Stealth mode (only internal weapons displayed in the bays - AIM-120C AMRAAM and GBU-31 JDAM)
- Air to air mode (AIM-9X Sidewinders on the wings and AIM-120C AMRAAM in the internal bay)
- Beast Mode (all of the above plus wing mounted GBU-12 Paveway II)
I didn't like the idea of having to choose an option and then glue that choice in forever! So along came the Magnets. For this I used N52 1mm X 1mm (www.guysmagnets.com). They were a bit of a challenge but thankfully, it all worked out in the end. So now I can pose the model in any of the 3 weapons load out options.
The kit also allows the following options which are also interchangeable:
- Canopy closed.
- Canopy open.
- Wing flaps up.
- Wing flaps down.
- Instruments On.
- Instruments Off.
So this kit is very versatile.
Paints used were the standard kit Tamiya lacquer paint call-outs. If you would like a list of what these were, just drop me a message in the comments below and I will let you know.
Anyway, this kit was a joy to build even if a long project compared to what I have been used to.
Thank you for stopping by and please, take a look at my end result and let me know what you like and what you don't like.
Enjoy!
G’day Scott (@scottiya),
It was great seeing this at the club meet on Sunday. I’m glad you got the magnets sorted so that the external weapons stay on now.
Liked!
Thank you Michael @michaelt - yes I'm very pleased it all worked out in the end
Well done, Scott. Those paints are the best representation of the Have Glass coatings that I’ve seen.
Wow really John @j-healy - thank you for that
Nice job breaking up paint work
Cheers George @blackadder57
Great job all around Scott. The camouflage, cockpit and weapons bay detail all combine for a very convincing depiction of the real thing.
Thank you Russell @russjurco
Nice work on this.
The good news about F-35s is they're so expensive, no one will ever be able to afford to fight a war with them.
Let's hope you're right, Tom @tcinla
Thank you Tom @tcinla - we'll just have to wait for Top Gun 5, and a movie version of F35 B/C's going into battle
This is beautiful work, Scott @scottiya!
I think the F-35 is pretty cool and so is this model! 
Thank you so much Gary @garybrantley
An absolute beauty, Scott @scottiya
Since this year our entire fleet of F16 has been replaced by F35.
A bit more noise now and then but as an aviation enthusiast not such a big issue
Thank you John @johnb - must be horrible to have these aircraft so close to home ha ha
Well-done, Scott. No clinkers. All is spot-on inside and out.
Thank you very much Bob @bails
Excellent job and beautiful result, Scott!
Thank you Spiros @fiveten
Very sharp. I like the weapons bays, the engine nozzle, and the surface color variations. Very well done!
Thank you Brian @bapowellphys
Excellent build - love the paintwork, and the magnets was a cool idea. Nicely done!
Thank you Greg @gkittinger
Nice work, Scott! Paint work looks awesome and I totally agree on the magnets; what a great way to interchange the loadout options. That F-35 has some serious ordinance...wow.
Thank you so much Joe
Beautiful work, I did something similar to the magnets on 1/72 aircraft 2-sided tape.
Great idea Robert @roofrat. Thank you also
Is it just me or is F-35 on the verge of being butt ugly, design wise.
I guess it’s one of those “eye of the beholder” perceptions
I like it.
The Boeing X-32 now that was ugly in my perception. It would have looked great in the animated “Planes” movies
Thankfully the F-35 won the JSF race against that plane.
I agree. As long as it does its job. who cares what it looks like.
This is really an impressively built model, Scott @scottiya , it looks very realistic, although I’ve never seen a real F-35 in person. After looking at it I feel more inspired to start my Hasegawa 1/48 A-7D or AFV F-5F. They both got a lot of detail like this model of yours.
Hey Jay @ssgt. Thank you my friend
. Looking forward to
seeing your A-7D or your AFV F-5F and I’m pleased you’re feeling inspired mate.