just a little update of my latest project, which is the 1/48 JSF by Revell. so far no fit problems, just the engine which doesn’t come in rotated form so I had to cut and refix.
The engine is painted in Tamiya flat aluminium with bare metal detail.
The aircraft itself is painted in Tamiya AS-16 + AS-27. with the white wheel and bomb bays.
first dry fit.
Cockpit OOB a little touching up is required me thinks, don’t really see it till you take a photo of it.
Very impressive. Please post more photos of the build before you are finished. I was thinking of doing one of these and I would like to see the rest of the construction. Thanks.
Eddie
Nice work - I’m sure I’ve seen footage of the JSF vectoring it’s rear nozzle, and doesn’t it kindof bend “fluidly” rather than at right angles? I think the outlet pipe may be flexible… just a thought [2c]
You can’t really see the engine after it’s been fitted to the fuselage so as long as it points down it has the effect I’m looking for, as this is my first bit of scratchbuilding so I’m happy, by the way does any one know where I can find the decals for the F-35b VSTOL version as I’ve tried my resources but to no avail, if not I will just have to use some harrier one’s.
…still you could consider taking the three nozzle peaces apart again. You assembled them in a 0 - 90 degree angle. In real - as i understand, it should be mounted in a 45 - 45 angle. This way the two bents combine to a 90 degree angle. That is a 45 leftish combined with a 45 rightish to straigthen out straight down again, if you know what I mean.
My intention is to build all of the 5th generation (allied) fighter 1/48. JSF will be part of them, although I’m in doubt if this modell has the quality I’m looking for. Can you give a critical analysis of the kit?
(in my stock (see webpage) there is already a Rafale and Eurofighter; awaiting a decent Gripen, F22 en F35)
md - that’s exactly what I was thinking about saying and thanks for the references. In fact, I’m in the process of replacing the tailpipe in the 1/72 kit because it doesn’t have the rotating joints in exactly the right place and has detail on it that’s not right. I’ve also modified or replaced every other part in the kit so it’s a more accurate representation of the X-35B.
scotty - on the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with your attitude and approach. Moreover, you’ll build 25 models to my one. The X-35B decals do come with another version of the 1/48 kit but apparently they’re no bargain. See http://cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/pan/build_pan_f-35ab.shtml. However, since the kit is not very accurate anyway, I agree that it would be appropriate to use some cool Harrier decals instead.
Wow - love that video! The jet-pipe is like Robby the Robot’s arm! You can see why my memory had it down as flexible though, can’t you?
Is it just me, or does the cockpit and nose area just resemble a Harrier a teeny bit from profile? The JSF just isn’t as graceful though, is it, with it’s funny doors & splindly front oleos. Fantastic piece of kit though! [:)]
scotty;
well it looks good and I feel with you on the inaccuracies of the kit, especially the ejection seat, it looks like a Russian type seat not the Boeing ACES II or the Martin-Baker NACES seat that the U.S. uses, if you give me a couple of weeks I might be able to get you some pix of the front office of the F-35B, I live about an hour from Patuxtant NAS here in Maryland
Just 1 more photo a quick mock-up with raf roundels as the photo on www.jsf.mil
svankreijl, the jet nozzle only comes in 1 part not 3 as you suggested, which I have cut to the angle as I’m not vey confidant with scratch building this is as good as it gets.
As for critcal view I think this kit is like all kits it has its good and bad points.
Top fuselage is molded in 1 piece so it makes it hard to paint the lift fan etc.
bottom fuselage is slightly out of shape when joined to top half and wheel + bomb bays don’t fit right until you have clamped it real good say 7 elastic bands then fits real nice.
overall the kit has good tooling and looks right from a distance which is ok for me, but with a little more time and more money to buy new resin seats etc you will have a fine model, panel lines are well recesed so not to much scribing to be done.
Instead of Harrier decals, you might want to consider Hornet ones… seeing as we plan on replacing Hornets with them before the Harriers. All our Harriers are newly-upgraded with newer motors, awesome avionics, and better capabilities. Our Hornets are getting trapped out, more of a burden on spare parts, and have essentially flip-flopped with the Harriers for the maintenance issues since the Navy has gone to mostly (soon all) Supers and our supply of spare parts is drying up. Just FYI.
The JSF doesnt use a NACES or ACES seat. It uses a MB Mk.16 series (specifically, the Mk.16E), which is more similar to the seats in the T6 Texan II or NASA T-38N’s than it is to the current seats (naces/aces).
But then again, the Harrier uses the SJU-4 seat instead of the naces… mainly for increased ejection parameters while in the hover. I suspect the JSF had to consider this over the naces as well.
