1:48 F-35C Lightning II exhaust nozzle - opened for tamiya

The real subject

The Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II is the carrier form intended for aircraft carriers. It differs from the other versions in its larger wing with folding tips, its stronger landing gear and its arrestor hook, that is in everything the machine needs for a catapult launch and a deck landing. Its nozzle at the tail is uncovered and on a finished model it is visible from behind and from the side.

What the set solves

It replaces the exhaust nozzle in the opened position in 1:48 scale. In an injection-molded kit this part is usually split into two halves, so once they are glued a seam is left along its length which is hard to remove in a deep, curved place. The replacement part has no lengthwise joint and carries both the pattern of the individual petals and a view inside. According to the name it is cut for the Tamiya kit; the extent of the parts and the procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• Try the seating dry before you remove the corresponding part of the kit.
• Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little from the part and sand the remainder down.
• The parts are not of polystyrene; they bond with cyanoacrylate glue.
• Wash and degrease the part before painting, otherwise paint will not hold on the smooth surface.
• Paint and pick out the inside of the nozzle before you fit it; after that you will not get a brush inside.

Who it is for

For modelers who want the tail of the model finished without a seam and with an open nozzle, as the machine looks standing on deck. Fitting it is an afternoon's work, but it pays not to hurry over it. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.