My Stash Grew Again 2020

[NARSES2]

Two 1/72 Academy kits, a F-35A and an AH-64, arrived today from Moritz' sale via Carl (The Big Gimper).

Be interested in your views on the F-35 mate.

For some unknown reason I feel compelled to get a 1/72 kit of the thing. No idea why, but if I do I'm not sure who's to get ?

[kitnut617]

Two 1/72 Academy kits, a F-35A and an AH-64, arrived today from Moritz' sale via Carl (The Big Gimper).

Be interested in your views on the F-35 mate.

For some unknown reason I feel compelled to get a 1/72 kit of the thing. No idea why, but if I do I'm not sure who's to get ?

OK Chris, I'll get some photos taken of it, should add that the kit was part of Moritz' "flood" he had a few years ago, there's no box, instructions or decals with it.

I'm in the minority here Chris, I'm one of the few that actually like the aircraft, along with the F-22. As much as I love the Legacy Harriers, the F-35 is a major advancement of them. When trying to build my idea of a 'supersonic' Harrier a few years ago, the research suggested that the Harrier was basically at it's peak in development and the only way forward was a new airframe.

So that's what I came up with, even though I used multiple components from other McD aircraft. I should add this is meant to be just a 'Harrier' Replacement aircraft and nothing more. I had a thread going but it was pre-PB so the whole thread is minus photos now.

[NARSES2]

Cheers mate.

I've nothing against the F-35 at all, I think initially maybe they bit off a little more then they could chew comfortably, it's just it will be one of the first modern types I've built in aeons and I want to do it in a "proper" camouflage/marking scheme. Maybe for "Lizzie's" 100th birthday, we should be out of Lockdown by then. 

[kitnut617]

Academy F-35A sprue pic.



Despite having 'multi coloured' sprues, it looks not bad at all. It does have slightly raised panel lines, seems similar in construction as other F-35 kits but this kit does come with four wing pylons and weapons to put on them. There should be another two for the under wing tip ASRAAM's but they're not included. There's a nicely detail weapons bay, plus weapons.

I have an Italeri F-35A too, but I'm not very happy with that one. For starters, it has massively overscale panel lines which will have to be all sanded off. Scale wise, it's like a carpenter had been let loose on it with a pile of 2x6's and nailed them to the fuselage, they stick out so much. When Italeri announced recently they were doing a F-35B too, the sprue shots of that kit show they have continued with these horrendous panel lines. I sent them an email telling them if they toned down the panel lines they would have a winner, the reply I got was they did it this way so modelers could paint them easier. It just looks awful ----

I've got two Fujimi F-35B's too, these kits have smooth surfaces, but then also a mass of recessed rivet heads along both sides of each engraved panel lines. It comes with an engine which can be posed for in flight or hovering, although you can only see the exhaust nozzle.

I've read that the best F-35 kit to get, F-35A or the F-35B, is the Hasegawa one. I've not seen one so I can't comment on that.

But if you're going to do a Brit F-35, you need to find a F-35B kit Chris

EDIT: the sprues are not quite like that Chris, they've been cut so they fit into a smaller box for shipping.
Scalemates has a pdf file which you can look at.
Also, looking at the instruction sheet, it does have six underwing pylons, the under-wing tip ones have to be built up from a couple of parts and they didn't look like they would be pylons when I looked at the sprue.

[PR19_Kit]

When trying to build my idea of a 'supersonic' Harrier a few years ago, the research suggested that the Harrier was basically at it's peak in development and the only way forward was a new airframe.

Hawker thought so too, and their solution was called the P.1154. 

Sadly no-one agreed with them.

[The Wooksta!]

Apparently, I've ordered a trio of Modeldecal sheets from ebay - they were in my basket and I'd forgotten about them, only to buy some Vulcan wheels from teh same trader and paid for them without realising it.  Innit marvellous!

[ChernayaAkula]

<...> I've read that the best F-35 kit to get, F-35A or the F-35B, is the Hasegawa one. I've not seen one so I can't comment on that. <...>

The Hasegawa F-35s are pretty neat and apparently the best in terms of shape (although I don't know any specifics - I haven't seen any obvious problems in the Academy kits), but they only comes with closed wepaons bays. If you want open bays, Academy is the one to go for.  Academy's F-35B is apparently even nicer than their A.

[kitnut617]

When trying to build my idea of a 'supersonic' Harrier a few years ago, the research suggested that the Harrier was basically at it's peak in development and the only way forward was a new airframe.

Hawker thought so too, and their solution was called the P.1154. 

Sadly no-one agreed with them.

Reading Mike Pryce's book BAe P.1216 will give you clues as to why that happened Kit. Very interesting book it is too ---

[PR19_Kit]

When trying to build my idea of a 'supersonic' Harrier a few years ago, the research suggested that the Harrier was basically at it's peak in development and the only way forward was a new airframe.

Hawker thought so too, and their solution was called the P.1154. 

Sadly no-one agreed with them.

Reading Mike Pryce's book BAe P.1216 will give you clues as to why that happened Kit. Very interesting book it is too ---

I've got it, just wish I could afford one of the kits to make one.

[DogfighterZen]

To complete the AM investment for the F.1 kit, a Yahu instrument panel is also coming from the UK from trinitymews2.

I'm a big fan of Yahu instrument panels, nice simple and effective drop in panels, especially if you have an open canopy. Good price as well IMHO.

Yup, good price for the detail and ease of use. 
This set i should be able to use as it says it can be used with the Special Hobby kit, as well as with the Heller and Hasegawa kits too so, if i don't use it on the SH kit, i'll have to make it work on the Hase kit.

<...> I've read that the best F-35 kit to get, F-35A or the F-35B, is the Hasegawa one. I've not seen one so I can't comment on that. <...>

The Hasegawa F-35s are pretty neat and apparently the best in terms of shape (although I don't know any specifics - I haven't seen any obvious problems in the Academy kits), but they only comes with closed wepaons bays. If you want open bays, Academy is the one to go for.  Academy's F-35B is apparently even nicer than their A.

Something that may have some weight in the decision of which kit to buy which is the fact that the Hasegawa kits don't have the raised panel lines and provide decals for the RAM tape so the modeller doesn't have to mask and paint the intricate pattern that the tape creates. Academy also have the decals for the RAM tape in their most recent boxing of the A (but not in the first release) and the new B kit.
There's also the fact that there's only one limited edition box of the Hase kits with weapons and pylons, the "Beast mode"  A and B kits, while Academy A and B and Italeri B variant kits have all the pylons and weapons.
But like Moritz said, Chris, it all depends if you want a kit with open weapons bays. I think that if you want them open, Academy is the best choice for both the A and B variants.
Now, if you want the bigger wings of the C variant, there's only one choice and that is the Orange model kit, which also has slightly raised RAM tape lines but has both the open weapons bays option and pylons for the wings. Hasegawa kits might be better but they're also more expensive if you want the limited edition beast mode kits... I'll wait for them to release the C variant like that.
I have to admit, i've been looking at getting the Academy B kit cause it's the only variant of which i don't have any kit in my stash as i have the Hasegawa, Academy and Italeri A and the Orange models C kit. And also a Kittyhawk 1/48 C kit too... 

Regarding acquisitions for the stash, last night i ordered a Wingman models 1/48 Latin American Kfirs kit from The little shop of Phantoms in Germany... expensive, yes, but that is the coolest looking Kfir EVER!   

[kitnut617]

When trying to build my idea of a 'supersonic' Harrier a few years ago, the research suggested that the Harrier was basically at it's peak in development and the only way forward was a new airframe.

Hawker thought so too, and their solution was called the P.1154. 

Sadly no-one agreed with them.

Reading Mike Pryce's book BAe P.1216 will give you clues as to why that happened Kit. Very interesting book it is too ---

I've got it, just wish I could afford one of the kits to make one.

I get the Fantastic Plastic News Letter every now and then, one time it had the P.1216 P.1214 advertised as last of them, I went on their website and ordered one and I think I got their last one ---- I managed to get an additional canopy with it, it'll go on Martin's P.1214 P-1216 kit I have too.

EDIT: Wait a minute, that should be the other way around ---- 

[NARSES2]

Many thanks people re the info on the various F-35 kits, and especially the sprue shots Robert 

Academy F-35B it is then

[PR19_Kit]

Academy F-35B it is then

Are you going to put a prop on the front of it then? 

[kitnut617]

Many thanks people re the info on the various F-35 kits, and especially the sprue shots Robert 

Academy F-35B it is then

Me too I think after a closer inspection of this F-35A. Then some 617 Sqn decals for it --- unless it already has them 

[Nick]

Many thanks people re the info on the various F-35 kits, and especially the sprue shots Robert 

Academy F-35B it is then

Me too I think after a closer inspection of this F-35A. Then some 617 Sqn decals for it --- unless it already has them 

I think it needs Special Markings and a Special Paint Scheme. WW2 Lancaster Bomber Command scheme for example.