1:48 F 35 A Lighting II wheels bays

The real subject

The F-35A Lightning II is the version for land-based air forces, the one that takes off and lands from an ordinary runway and has neither the lift fan nor the strengthened landing gear of the carrier machines. On modern aircraft the landing gear bays are among the places where a lot of hardware is visible together: piping, wiring, struts and the inner face of the doors. On a kit these spaces tend to be simplified for production reasons, and yet they can be seen into from below whenever the model is displayed sitting on its gear.

What the set replaces

The set is aimed precisely at the landing gear bays of the model in 1:48 scale. Which parts the box holds and which kit they are shaped for is given in the manufacturer's instructions; follow them when fitting the parts as well. The parts are not polystyrene, so they do not react to ordinary cement for plastic kits.

Building and painting tips

The bays go in early in the build, usually before the fuselage is closed up, so plan the order of the steps in advance. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand off the rest. Wash and degrease before painting. Paint the inside of the bay and bring out the shadows before the surrounding parts cover it; afterward you will reach it with neither a brush nor an airbrush.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the model sitting on its gear and want it to hold up when seen from below. It calls for patient fitting and for work with super glue. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.