The new Tamiya 1/48 scale Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II plastic model kit replicates the U.S. Navy’s variant of the fighter. The F-35C has larger wings than its sister aircraft and beefier landing gear to absorb the energy of violent carrier landings. Unflatteringly nicknamed “Battle Penguin,” the F-35C is scheduled to replace the Navy’s F-18E/F Super Hornets, although only three fleet squadrons currently fly it.
The kit box comes packed with 14 sprues full of parts to allow you to build an F-35C in stealth mode (no external ordnance), air-to-air mode (missiles only), or beast mode (full ordnance). Two sets of crystal-clear, amber-tinted canopies allow you to change between an open or closed cockpit. The same option also includes the wings, as you can swap between having them deployed or folded. Yes, you can swap them out after completing your build!
The 36-page instruction manual includes two full-color profiles for stencil placement and six marking options — four Navy and two Marine.
Widely known for excellent engineering and design, this kit lives up to Tamiya’s reputation. Every step was considered, and all the parts fit almost perfectly. The only fit issue I had was with the multipiece main landing gear, and I had to fill small gaps with putty. That was it. No other filling was necessary anywhere else.
The front landing gear comes in two parts, top and bottom. You secure the top half while building the front gear bay, no glue necessary. When construction is complete, snip off a small plastic tab, and the top half of the landing gear swings down. You install the rest of the front landing gear, and everything falls into place. Ingenious!
The details really are the highlight of this kit. Build it with weapons bays open or closed — it seemed like I’d find every hose, wire, and connector represented. The cockpit has a multipart Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat and a detailed tub. The instrument and side panels have raised details, and decals are provided if you don’t want to paint it all. Even with the canopy closed, much of the cockpit is visible. The kit includes masks for the canopies and a seated pilot figure.
The main challenge for me was painting the radar-absorbent coating. The metallic sheen is difficult to match, and the Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) panels are often different colors. One of the markings in the kit is for the VFA-86 Sidewinders, which fly newer jets that are mostly one color, which can make painting easier. The provided decals for some areas that are a different color than the main fuselage help, too.
Instead of using the decals, I opted for AK Real Colors Have Glass Grey (No. RC245). The stenciling and squadron markings had a bit of a blue tinge compared to the real jets, but they settled down nicely over a gloss coat with Micro Sol. I flat-coated and sprayed a thinned mix of Mr. Metal Color Stainless Steel (No. MC213) and Mr. Metal Color Bronze (No. MC216) for that sheen these aircraft have.
I can only say the new Tamiya 1/48 scale Lockheed Martin F-35C plastic model kit is exceptional. It sets the bar for both engineering and ease of construction. Add impressive details, and you have an absolute winner of a plastic model kit!