1:48 F-35B Lightning II SPACE

Eduard SPACE 1:48 for the F-35B Lightning II

The set 1:48 F-35B Lightning II SPACE is an accessory to a model, not a kit. At Eduard the SPACE line concentrates on the pilot's compartment: on the instrument equipment of the cockpit and on the elements that can be looked at in it once the build is finished. Sister sets of the same line aim directly at the belts and the instruments. The result is a cockpit that looks lived-in once the canopy is closed, without having to be laboriously painted out with a brush.

The real subject

The F-35B Lightning II is the variant of the fifth-generation combat aircraft for a short takeoff and a vertical landing. Behind the cockpit it carries a lift fan and the main nozzle swivels downward, which allows the aircraft to operate from short surfaces and from the decks of ships without a catapult. The cockpit of the F-35 is markedly simplified compared with older types, because a large touchscreen display has replaced the classic analog instruments. That is precisely why it stands out on a model when the instrument part is rendered accurately.

Usage tips

• Lay the parts on a clean and degreased surface, because the slightest grease is a problem.
• Finish the cockpit and let it dry before you start detailing.
• Use tweezers with flat jaws and work in good light.
• Do not use decal softener or setter, because the chemistry damages the print and spoils the element.
• Do not spray the finished pilot's compartment over with a heavy layer of varnish, as it will fill the detail.

Who the set is for

The set is for modelers who build the F-35B in 1:48 scale and want the pilot's compartment more elaborate than the kit itself allows. It pays off above all on models that are built with the canopy open, because that is where the interior is most visible.