1:32 Belgian F-35 generic set

The successor to the long-serving Belgian Vipers

Belgium chose its fifth-generation fighter in the fall of 2018 and the order covers thirty-four examples. They replace the F-16s, in whose production the country itself once took part and which in the end served considerably longer than was originally expected. The move to the new type also brought a change of visual culture: instead of bold roundels in the national colors came insignia that differ only slightly from the surrounding finish and almost disappear at a normal glance.

The layout of the sheet

The set is laid out generically, so any machine from the order can be put together from it. It brings Belgian roundels in a muted rendition, serial numbers, squadron markings and, on top of that, airframe stencil markings in the form that aircraft with a reduced radar signature actually carry. Besides the warning texts at the cockpit there are also labels for the access panels and markings for the weapons bays.

What to watch out for when applying

Because all the elements are low in contrast, working with them differs from brightly marked aircraft: a misplacement does not show as much, but a bubble under the carrier film is easy to miss. It pays to work with a good spot light, to press each element down with a damp cloth once it is in place and finally to unify the surface with matte varnish. In this scale the span of the F-35A works out at roughly thirty-three centimeters.

Anyone who already has a Belgian fighter of the previous generation in the display case gets a chance with this set to build its direct successor next to it at the same size. A pair of an old and a new machine from one country is among the most rewarding ways to show how technology has moved on.