1:72 Lockheed Martin F-35 C Lightning II - 3D-Printed Ejection Seat for Tamiya

The real subject

The Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II is the naval version of the F-35 family, built for the US Navy. It differs from the other versions in a larger wing area with folding tips, a strengthened undercarriage and an arrester hook, that is everything the machine needs for a takeoff from the deck of an aircraft carrier and for landing onto an arrester wire. It is powered by one turbofan. The ejection seat for the whole F-35 family is supplied by the Martin-Baker company, the US16E type.

What the set offers

The seat is made by 3D printing, which shows at this scale in the small things: the raised relief of the straps, handles and upholstery comes out finer than injected plastic can manage. The part replaces the seat from the kit, so the cabin gets a striking element, which is most visible with the canopy slid back.

• An ejection seat for a model of the F-35C in 1:72 scale
• Made by direct 3D printing
• Intended for kits from the Tamiya company
• It replaces the seat from the original kit

Building tips

Printed parts are held on thin print supports. Cut them off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder carefully, so that the relief is not damaged. The material is not polystyrene, so glue for plastic models has no effect on it; use cyanoacrylate glue. Before painting, wash and degrease the part, because remains of print resin may stay on the surface, and coat it with a base color. The printed material is more fragile than plastic, so work with it calmly and without pressure.

Who it is for

For modelers who build contemporary combat aircraft at a small scale and want the cabin at the level of the rest of the model. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.