Pretty much as the title asks… I’m curious if there are plans in the works for an F-35 from anyone? I’ve been able to catch a bit of info on the development, but not a lot of news on deployment and dates, and nothing hobby related.
Bueller?
The only kit I’m aware of is the 1/48 kit by Panda that comes in three flavours; USAF, USMC and RAF. BTW, as this is the first time I’ve seen you post here,[#welcome] to the Forum.
You know, I love this place… I didn’t even think of Panda.
Thanks for the welcome and the reply!
http://www.pandamodels.com/html/our_products.html
Heres the link to their website and welcome to the board!
And if you’re lucky, you can pick one up for $4 USD, like I did!
(The LHS had a “move the Panda deadstock” sale a coupla months ago)
I don’t know Panda’s kit (no distibutor in France) but they look great!!
But pay attention, the USAF F-35 is actually the X-35 (the USAF will not buy STOVL F-35 if I remember well).
But I like the belgian (“NATO” panda says) F-35.
Ahhh… yes, there’s the rub! I want to get the RAF/STOVL (X-35B?); looking to add it to a history of British fighters series… well, will make use of the info here and it looks like Panda wins!
Wow, four dollars… <> would be a great price.
Many thanks to all of you for the warm welcome and for jumping in here.
Italeri makes a 1/72 scale X-35 JSF, kit # 1209. It’s the VSTOL version, but one might be able to fix that with rescribing. There is an article in FSM (?) about fixing the JSF up. Although I don’t remember if it was the Panda kit or Italeri. - Calvin
i saw the panda F-35B in the LHS for 25 bucks singapore. dang i wish i could get one for 4 bucks US. i heard that its innacurate and its got sketchy detail but fits well. sorta figures for a plane like that
I just picked up the Panda 1:48 F-35B USMC for AU$20. As the RAAF are getting the JSF (have no idea what version) I thought it might make a great conjectural build with RAAF markings.
It is a big fighter in the box!
cheers
Mike
madmike the RAF is getting the vtol version and i have both the vtol design and the nato F-35, detail on the 1/48 is a little off espically in the cockpit . Before i was going to build it i was concidering updating the cockpit area and lengthen the fuselage on the nato version but opted later on not to,am concidering on E-mailing them to see if they are going to upgrade the kit in the near future.
I have Revell Germany’s 1/72 X-35B, the STOL/VTOL version. Haven’t built it yet, but it looks OK, I think it is probably the same kit as the Italeri. It has markings for the test a/c I think
Jetjag both the Revell Germany and the italeri 1/72 scale kits are basically the same,but i think the revell germany kit might have better detail or it could the italeri kit i read somewhere that italeri canceled it, i had both italeri kits to small for me not enough detail in them, so after a while i let the trash can have them, but i wish they would produce a 1/48 scale X-32 that would be nice to have in my collection
Tamiya has a 1/72 kit… But I am guessing it is a reboxed Italeri kit, as usual with Tamiya!
Chris in Japan
revell has a 1/48 kit, but it’s a reboxing of the panda model. One of the problems with al f-35 kits is that they depict a prototype rather then a production models.
From what I heard the panda model isn’t that good.
If Im not mistaken… Australia is the first and only country to have actually ordered and payed for theirs arent they? As a big shock to alot of people!
Chris in Japan
All the 1/72 kits are from the same molds. The Revell Germany kit (which is out of production) has the X-35B (VTOL demonstrator) decals. The 1/48 kits are also from the same molds, which appear to be pantographed (scaled up) from the 1/72.
The kit most closely resembles the mockup, not the prototype. However, in outline and general shape - except for the belly - it is very close to the prototype. However, to make it more closely resemble the X-35B, I’ve replaced or modified almost every part. The main discrepancy besides the belly (which depicts the bulges for the missile bays that were on the mockup) is the main landing gear location. The rest are details of interest to those inclined to rivet counting…
A 1/48 kit review and photos can be found here - http://cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/build_pan_f-35ab.shtml
Actually, the USAF announced last year they will purchase a number for STOVL F-35Bs for the CAS mission. They may or may not be exactly like USMC/RAF/RN F-35Bs however.