1:32 F-35A Lightning II Canopy, Wheels & EOTS Paint Masks Set for Trumpeter

The canopy, the wheels and the sensor window on the F-35A

The F-35A version is the land-based variant of the Lightning II with a conventional takeoff and landing and with a built-in cannon. Under the nose it carries the angularly faceted window of the EOTS system, which combines thermal imaging and target tracking in a single block. Its faceted shape is among the most conspicuous details of the whole aircraft and during the build it must not be fogged or scratched.

The package therefore deals with the three most sensitive places on the model at once. The one-piece canopy is hard to mask, because the frame is low and runs in a flat curve that masking tape does not like to follow; precisely cut film removes that problem. The circular stencils for the wheels separate the tire from the hub, and the last part protects the sensor window mentioned above.

The dimensions derive from the kit of the Trumpeter brand in 1:32 scale. At this size the model has a fuselage longer than half a meter, so every imprecise edge is legible from a normal viewing distance and honest masking repays itself in the final impression.

Modern combat aircraft tend to be restrained in color, so what decides the result is the cleanness of the work, not a colorful finish. A gray machine with undamaged edges and perfectly clear glazing looks better than an overpainted model with any number of shades, and that is exactly why precisely cut film is worth it.

The procedure does not differ from other self-adhesive films: degrease, transfer, press down from the center outward and spray perpendicular. With the gray finishes of modern machines it is worth laying down the darker base first and adding the lighter panels only afterward. Take the stencil off before the finish has cured completely and uncover the sensor window at the very end, once the whole model is varnished.