Tamiya Announces 1/48 F-35

+1  on the stash :).  I'm guessing because they call out the A, B + C that we will see the B and C variants in the future.  Price tag stings a bit but  I've been looking at these after moving to AZ and close to Luke AFB.  Saw a flight of them taking off a couple days ago coming down 303.  Loud little buggers.  Thanks for posting.

Write up and some more pics on The Modeling News: https://www.themodellingnews.com/2022/09/checks-them-map-to-see-its-not-april-1.html#more

keavdog

+1  on the stash :).  I'm guessing because they call out the A, B + C that we will see the B and C variants in the future.  Price tag stings a bit but  I've been looking at these after moving to AZ and close to Luke AFB.  Saw a flight of them taking off a couple days ago coming down 303.  Loud little buggers.  Thanks for posting.

 

Yeah,not cheap,but it is a big bird,certainly in line with their F-4 pricing,no?

Heh...I'm not really even a fan of the F-35, but I will probably buy and build this one because Tamiya is making it.  Speaking of their F-4, which is amazing, from the way some of the parts are designed, I think they're probably planning on some Air Force versions in the near future.  Parts of the fuselage and wings look like they're designed to be modular, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them do something similar with the F-35.

keavdog

+1  on the stash :).  I'm guessing because they call out the A, B + C that we will see the B and C variants in the future.  Price tag stings a bit but  I've been looking at these after moving to AZ and close to Luke AFB.  Saw a flight of them taking off a couple days ago coming down 303.  Loud little buggers.  Thanks for posting.

 

They do grow on you, don't they?  I love watching them fly over my house, then later in the day as they come back to Luke and do the landing pattern break. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Tamiya also does the B & C versions as well. 

Just came across this from Japan on the IPMS USA site

Squadron pre order $78.00

Not much of a fan either of the F35 but it has Tamiya on the box so hell yes I want one.

keavdog

+1  on the stash :).  I'm guessing because they call out the A, B + C that we will see the B and C variants in the future.  Price tag stings a bit but  I've been looking at these after moving to AZ and close to Luke AFB.  Saw a flight of them taking off a couple days ago coming down 303.  Loud little buggers.  Thanks for posting.

 

I pass by MCAS Beaufort sometimes. Yeah, they make the F-18 sound like a Tesla by comparison. Not only that, but they make the whole truck shake, even feel it through the pedals and my feet. That's some raw power right there.

As far as the kit, I'll pass. Just not really into fifth when stuff as modeling subjects. Being Tamiya, I'm sure it will be great, though.

I meant fifth gen. Useless autocorrect.

Meh...I'd rather have a new tool Canadair Sabre 2, 5 or 6 or N.A. F-86A or F-86E with the 'V' shaped windscreen and wing slats.

murph

Meh...I'd rather have a new tool Canadair Sabre 2, 5 or 6 or N.A. F-86A or F-86E with the 'V' shaped windscreen and wing slats.

 

I haven't seen that one announced yet 

murph

Meh...I'd rather have a new tool Canadair Sabre 2, 5 or 6 or N.A. F-86A or F-86E with the 'V' shaped windscreen and wing slats.

 

Yeah I'd definitely like an A model Sabre, as those are the ones that held the line in Korea against the Mig-15. But like that war, that aircraft is forgotten in 1/48.

For anybody who is interested, Furball Aero just sent me an e-mail announcing a nice set of F-35A decals in 1/48 scale.  Can't say enough good things about my experience so far with their decals...they definitely blow both Tamiya's and Eduard's out of the water on my F-4B project, so I'm sure their F-35A set will be excellent as well.

I like the F-35. Not an f-22 but still kicks A. I'll be getting one!

Got my invoice from Squadron today.  They'll be shipping mine on December 9th.  

My youngest brother was a systems engineer on the F-35 program at Ft. Worth so I will be buying this kit. The build will be a tribute to him. I've seen a couple of unboxings on YouTube and this kit is just crammed with detail. Won't be much need for aftermarket with this kit. Will probably do the airplane up in Luke AFB markings since my brother earned his engineering degree at ASU.

[quote user="Eaglecash867"]

Got my invoice from Squadron today.  They'll be shipping mine on December 9th.  

Tojo72

 Me too!!!

Cool!  Just waiting for my MRP Have Glass paints to arrive.  Had to order them from a shop in Poland because they're in short supply here in the states. 

Looks like another outstanding Tamiya kit. May look at eventually getting one, but, I just downsized the stash considerably. I'm Looking forward to seeing the WIP builds once some of y'all get your kits. 

Figures...just a couple of weeks after I ordered the Have Glass paints from Poland, Sprue Brothers got some back in stock.  Oh well...I guess I'll have two bottles of each now, since I placed an order with Sprue Brothers this morning.  If anybody is interested in trying them out, the paints are MRP278 and MRP280, for Have Glass F-16s and F-35s.

Just got an e-mail from Squadron with a tracking number.  Looks like it'll be on its way soon.  

Eaglecash867

Just got an e-mail from Squadron with a tracking number.  Looks like it'll be on its way soon.  

 

Yea,me too,fun to get it,but truth is it will probably sit for awhile,I will want to hear some build logs.I rarely jump on stuff right away.

Tojo72

Yea,me too,fun to get it,but truth is it will probably sit for awhile,I will want to hear some build logs.I rarely jump on stuff right away.

Mine will probably sit for a while too, depending on what the cockpit looks like.  I'll most likely end up waiting for a Quinta set to become available before doing too much with it.

Got mine on Wednesday, and I have started the parts removal/cleaning and test fit process while my F-4B is on hold for parts for a couple of days (messed up one of the outer weapons pylons really badly with super glue debonder).  Quicker and cheaper time-wise to just get another sprue.  All I can say so far about the F-35A is...WOW...just when I thought Tamiya's products couldn't get any better...this one is even better than the F-4B in its detail, precision, and engineering.  Looks like its gonna be a fun build.  

Eaglecash867

Got mine on Wednesday, and I have started the parts removal/cleaning and test fit process while my F-4B is on hold for parts for a couple of days (messed up one of the outer weapons pylons really badly with super glue debonder).  Quicker and cheaper time-wise to just get another sprue.  All I can say so far about the F-35A is...WOW...just when I thought Tamiya's products couldn't get any better...this one is even better than the F-4B in its detail, precision, and engineering.  Looks like its gonna be a fun build.  

 

Hey Eagle,as you know we have no messaging,please tell me about that paint for the F-35 that you got.

Hi Tojo,

I did a spoon test with the MRP Have Glass paint combo I got, and the stuff is pretty cool.  Not only is it the correct color, but the Have Glass clearcoat is infused with metallic particles, so you end up with a dull, metallic sheen to the paint, just like the real aircraft has.  Pretty cool stuff.

Eaglecash867

Hi Tojo,

I did a spoon test with the MRP Have Glass paint combo I got, and the stuff is pretty cool.  Not only is it the correct color, but the Have Glass clearcoat is infused with metallic particles, so you end up with a dull, metallic sheen to the paint, just like the real aircraft has.  Pretty cool stuff.

 

So it's a two part process the 280 paint,topped off with the 278 clearcoat? On what surface do you appy decals?

Thanks

Tojo72

So it's a two part process the 280 paint,topped off with the 278 clearcoat? On what surface do you appy decals? Thanks

Yup.  Two part process.  Right now I'm thinking the decals go directly onto the 280 (almost all of MRPs lacquers are semi-gloss, so decals can go right on the paint and snuggle down nicely), with the clearcoat going on after decals.  I'll do a spoon test of that as well at some point to see how it looks.  Seems logical though, since the clearcoat is kind of a semi-matt.  Their lacquers completely cure in less than an hour, so time investment in the two-part process should be minimal.  Aside from the overall, Have Glass dark grey scheme, there are several light grey areas on the F-35A where Tamiya tells you to mix 2 of their LP line paints in a 7:1 ratio (I think its 7:1 anyway), but I did a little research on that and found out the color they're after with that mix is FS36375 Light Ghost Grey (MRP093).  Already have that one in my inventory since its a common color on other aircraft, so I'm good for the lighter grey areas too.