1:48 F-35 Lightning II female pilot standing on a ladder (Type 1)

F-35 Lightning II female pilot on a ladder, type 1, 1:48 scale

The figure is modeled in the pose of someone climbing the access ladder to the cockpit. That sets it apart from the other poses in the same range, where the figures either stand freely on the ground or sit in an ejection seat. The designation type 1 serves to tell the individual variants apart.

The aircraft the figure belongs to

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine fifth-generation combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin, built in three forms: land-based, short takeoff and vertical landing, and a carrier version for ships. The name follows on from older aircraft that carried the name Lightning before. Because no particular version letter is given in the name of the item, the figure suits any of the forms.

Setting up the scene and painting

The pose on a ladder only makes sense if you really put a ladder up to the model and tune the height and the angle – otherwise the figure will hang in mid-air. It therefore pays to assemble it dry before painting: just offer the figure up, check the angle of the feet and only then glue it. Flight clothing takes muted shades, while the helmet and its visor deserve a smoother surface with a higher gloss. Pick out the harness and the straps with a thin line of a darker tone.

Where the figure fits

• dioramas depicting the preparation of an aircraft for takeoff
• models completed with an access ladder
• modelers who collect the whole range of poses
• display case scenes with a human reference

The aircraft itself and the ladder have to be obtained separately.