I have three updates for the F-35, pretty much because I forgot I was in this GB 
Sorry long post 
1. I started the F-35 and of course the pit is first. The kit does not have any paint call outs so I did a little research. It looks like I need a little more yellow to the ejection handle
2. Working more on the F-35. I read on a few reviews that there was a problem with the fit of the pit and nose wheel well. I assembled the wheel well, leaving the strut off until later and following the instructions, I dry fit the pit onto the wheel well, installed the well and pit in the lower fuse part. I then dry fit the upper fuse and saw the issue that was of so much consternation. The well/pit assembly sits too high for the fuse to mate. I dry fit the office to the upper fuse, breaking off the ejection seat in the process. The fit of the pit to the fuselage is perfect and held in there without any help. It was very helpful without the seat in there as well. I usually install the ejection seat just before the canopy anyway so no biggie. I took out my grinder and removed around 1mm, maybe more off the pit floor. I then dry fit the two half and found I fixed the offending lack of clearance, but the seam still wouldn’t fit without some force ![:hmm:]()
. I realized the aligning pin receivers were too high as well so after cutting then down all fit well.
Looking at the instructions, the ladder and ladder door have nice little PE parts. The door needs to be cut out of the lower fuse part to be used. This would be confusing for someone new to the hobby. One, it’s not clear what needs to be done and two, there’s not anywhere where the instructions say this is an option. In between binge watching “Band of Brothers”, I did some research of the ladder door and compartment. Scratching my head and some parts, I came up with what I think is a reasonable facsimile of the compartment. This is going to be an FAA bird so all the panels, at least the ones the kit allows to be open, will be open for the RN lads to inspect.
Next is the engine and fan drive shaft which I read is also an issue.
The nose wheel well in the lower fuse assembly showing the alining pins for the pit.
The pit in the upper fuse, ground down and pin receivers cut.
The seam fits well now.
The ladder door cut out with the unclear instructions.
The scratched ladder compartment. I still need to do a wee bit of work on the frame and scribe the RAM tape but I'm happy with it. Paint will really make it pop I think.
3. F-35 long update, lots of pictures.
So, after working on the F-35 for the past few days, I found that there is a lot more than just a fan driveshaft issue. Anyone planning on building this kit take note. It has nice detail and looks to be a good kit when finished, there are just a few fit issues at the beginning and middle of the build. The cockpit and nose gear well I already mentioned.
After working on the pit and well. The next step is the engine, fan and intake assembly. I did not go step by step here. Assemble the sub-assemblies and dry fit everything before gluing. This is what I ran into.
My first step was to make the assemblies. The engine, exhaust duct, and the intake ducting were easy enough but when I made the fan box assembly, I found the lower fan was too large to close the shroud. I filed the fan part outside until the shroud would close.
While attaching the upper intake fan and shroud to the fan case I saw there are no aligning pins or snug fit. The only aligning tab was on the upper fuselage. So now knowing the orientation, I sat the shroud on the case and aligned one injection pin mark with the case seam.
Next, the driveshaft is too small, or the transmission shaft is too large for them to fit so I filed the transmission shaft, then I could attach the driveshaft. Notice the fan box is assembled. I had to disassemble it to install the lower fan. My fault.
The next issue was the intake assembly and engine assembly. They are too short for the fuse intake opening. The engine is attached to the lower and upper fuse using pins but the intake will not reach the fuse opening with them attached. So, since this join won’t be seen I butted the front of the intake to the fuse intake opening and went with it.
Filled and sanded
Next was the exhaust nozzle. There are PE parts for this, but they are not called out in the instructions and the PE tree is numbered incorrectly. The nozzle parts are labeled 1, 2 and 3 on the tree, but 1, 2 and 3 are identified as canopy parts in the instructions. The nozzle PE didn’t match the nozzle anyway, so I didn’t install them. Perhaps they are for the A or C versions.
While the intake filler was drying, I worked on the wings and stabs. Again, fit issues. The stab parts needed filing to fit but the wing, slats and flaps went together very well. So, figuring this could not be this smooth I dry fit the wings to the lower fuse and Ha, there it was. The locating pins are receivers on both the wing and fuse, so I cut off the receivers on the fuse so the wing would fit flush. It still wasn’t completely flush, so a little sanding was in order to the fuse wing attachment. Now it’s just right.
The weapons bays and main gear wells assembled and installed very nicely. Very smooth.
The last thing I did this weekend, before the wife got on to me about spending too much time away, was install all the engine intake and exhaust parts in the lower fuse and glue both halves together, Now again, this step is not even close to the instruction sequence, but I can install the fan just before I attach the lower nose to the completed fuse, which is not in sequence either. I spread some filler on the intake and upper fuse opening and put it aside until tomorrow.
Oh goody, the intake lines up, yea!
The completed fan box, transmission, vanes and fan shroud.
This is a fun kit in the way that figuring out a puzzle is fun. It’s not for the beginner. It would have a beginner throwing it against the wall PO’ed for spending the money and swearing off scale modeling for good. For the large majority of the forum members, it is a nice change of pace from the shake and bake Hasegawa or Tamaya kit. This one makes you think and exercise some modeling skills.
I think its smooth sailing from now on. LOL, who am I kidding.
More to come