Looking for an F-35 Kit

[Al Murphy]

I'm looking for a model kit of the F-35 Lightning II, having done a quick google search I've found one by a company called Kitty Hawk which gets a reasonable review I think, but I was wondering whether there are any other kits out there currently, or maybe someone knows of something in the pipeline?

I've never heard of Kitty Hawk, but then I'm no great follower of the hobby, but I was expecting by now somebody like Tamiya or Airfix might have released one?

If the Kitty Hawk is the only one available does anyone have any experience of the kit, is it well made, detailed, reasonable to assemble? The review I read had a quick fit of the kit which left almost all of the internals out, and left the impression that some of the detailed parts weren't great quality.

Thanks,

Al

[lufbramatt]

Kitty Hawk are a new company, they've got ok reviews so far. I think Fujimi have done one in 1/72.

I think the bigger players are holding back to see what it looks like in service, as lots of details are likely to change. Airfix/Tamiya etc. don't want to be left with a kit that no-one will buy in the future as it's a model of the prototype and incorrect for an in-service version.

[dr_gn]

Review here:

http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.ph...

[Eric Mc]

I'm waiting for Lockheed to release one.

[dr_gn]

Having looked at the reviews for both, I think I'd go for the smaller (1:72) Fujimi version. Pretty sure that there will be way better kits released from other manufacturers later on though.

[Al Murphy]

Eric Mc said:

I'm waiting for Lockheed to release one.

1:1 scale ? Or an officially licenced product?

Thanks Dr Gn, I'll have a look at the Fujimi one, although a good point was made about them being based on the X-35 rather than the production aircraft, I've noticed a few discrepancies on the Kitty Hawk kit.

Maybe I'll hold out a bit longer for a kit.

Thanks,

Al

[Eric Mc]

1:1

The F-35 has had a very long gestation period and the kit manufacturers must be getting totally fed up waiting for the production variants to arrive.

[dr_gn]

I bet Revell will be among the first to release a decent kit of the production aircraft.

[Eric Mc]

Not out of the question.

[Al Murphy]

Eric Mc said:

1:1

The F-35 has had a very long gestation period and the kit manufacturers must be getting totally fed up waiting for the production variants to arrive.

Yes, a production full size one would be nice! It isn't just kit manufacturers that will breathe a sigh of relief once the development phase is completed and the production aircraft is up to full rate production and in service!

Interstingly I've noticed that the review I'd read of the Kitty Hawk model was of the first release of the F-35B STOVL variant which appeared to have a few issues, there is also now an F-35A CTOL variant available which looks to be much more detailed.

Al

[dr_gn]

dr_gn said:

I bet Revell will be among the first to release a decent kit of the production aircraft.

Hmm, missed that one. No longer in production, and apparently based on the Panda Models kit (never heard of them). Obviously not the production variant, but another option if you can find one.

[MartG]

I think a few of the major manufacturers got burned when they released kits based on prototypes of the F-117 and F-22 which were considerably different from the production version, so are playing a waiting game until the F-35 ( in all its variants ) actually gets into service

[Eric Mc]

It dates back as far back as Airfix's release of the Blackburn NA39 in the early 1960s. The NA39 was the forerunner of the Buccaneer - but sufficiently different for the model not to be of an actual Buccaneer.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

It dates back as far back as Airfix's release of the Blackburn NA39 in the early 1960s. The NA39 was the forerunner of the Buccaneer - but sufficiently different for the model not to be of an actual Buccaneer.

Hmmm - box art looks like a single seater ( or side by side ), otherwise it's not far off how the Gyron Junior powered S.1 looked

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

It dates back as far back as Airfix's release of the Blackburn NA39 in the early 1960s. The NA39 was the forerunner of the Buccaneer - but sufficiently different for the model not to be of an actual Buccaneer.

I've got an Airfix Jetstream which had US Air Force decals and stretchers inside, even though in the end the real aircraft were never bought by the US Air Force despite production being started for the contract.

[MartG]

Back on topic, the Fujimi F-35 is of the -B variant ( understandably, as that is the one Japan will be getting ), which shouldn't change too much ( at least externally ) between the pre-production ones currently ( not ) flying and the in-service ones. I've yet to see any manufacturer say they'll be releasing an -A or -C version yet.

Italeri did release a kit of the X-35, but that will obviously be very different fromthe final versions. Here's one I made earlier....

[JungleJim]

I've got a Revell X-35B in 1:72

[dr_gn]

Loads of them here in 1:72:

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=...

Some probably have similar origins though...

[MartG]

dr_gn said:

Loads of them here in 1:72:

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=...

Some probably have similar origins though...

All X-35s though, not F-35 ( and the main ad states X-35A while the boxtop shows a -B )

[dr_gn]

MartG said:

dr_gn said:

Loads of them here in 1:72:

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=...

Some probably have similar origins though...

All X-35s though, not F-35 ( and the main ad states X-35A while the boxtop shows a -B )

The 1:48 Revell boxing previously posted has got both X- and F- on the title as if they are the same thing!

Must admit, I'd never be able to tell the difference.