1:72 F-35C Lightning

1:72 F-35C Lightning, a full photo-etched set

Photo-etched sheet in 1:72 scale for a model of the carrier version of the modern fighter. According to the code series this is a full set, that is a wider range of parts than the narrowed Zoom form gives. The package contains accessories only; a plastic model of the aircraft has to be your own.

The real subject

The carrier variant differs from the land-based one and from the short-takeoff form most of all in the wing. It is noticeably larger, has folding tips to save room below deck and longer ailerons, so the aircraft lands more slowly and settles onto a small area under control. A sturdier undercarriage and an arrestor hook under the tail go with that. The internal weapons bays and the smooth transitions of the surface follow from the effort to keep the radar signature as low as possible.

Usage tips

On an aircraft with a smooth surface it pays to fit the photo-etch before you start painting, so that the transitions settle under one layer of paint. Handle the overlap of the sheets with a thin layer of filler applied with a finger and wipe the rest away with a cotton swab soaked in spirit. Paint the seat and the panels separately and glue them only once they have dried. A uniform matte finish over the whole airframe moreover forgives fewer mistakes than gloss, on which every unevenness of a joint shows.

Who the set is for

• Builders of contemporary carrier aircraft in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want to raise the cockpit and the small external elements
• Those interested in the finest possible rendition of details
• Advanced builders used to photo-etch in a small scale