Tamiya 1/ 48 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning Ⅱ
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning Ⅱ
An Ambitious Design
The F-35 Lightning II is an ambitious project that aims to provide - in a single overarching design - aircraft tailored to three different services' distinct needs; that it does in the form of the F-35A (for the Air Force), F-35B (Marines) and F-35C (Navy). Perhaps the most stunning of the three is the innovative F-35B, which was designed to succeed the AV-8B Harrier II, and is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft thanks to a lift fan installed between the cockpit and the engine, plus the 3 Bearing Swivel Module mechanism. Rather impressively, it also manages to combine extremely low observability characteristics with exemplary situational awareness provided by the numerous sensors across the aircraft. The F-35B is expected to serve mainly from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships; as of 2023, the British Royal Navy and the Italian Navy have started deployment, and the Japan Air Self Defense Force also expects to see F-35Bs with its units from 2024.
About the Model
★This is a 1/48 scale plastic model assembly kit. Length: 325mm, wingspan: 222mm. ★The model can be assembled as one of three types: parked, short takeoff and vertical landing. ★Fine recreations of Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) are molded into fuselage surfaces. ★Engine duct and nozzle are assembled into one of three positions depending upon the type of model chosen. ★The engine nozzle is made up of 5 parts and gives an accurate, crisply detailed finish. ★Parts are included for raised and lowered versions of control surfaces. ★A stand is provided for use when assembling a vertical landing model. ★The lift fan is integrated with the nose landing gear bay. ★This model offers excellent fuselage interior detail. ★A full complement of ordnance includes AIM-9X and AIM-120C missiles, plus GBU-12 and GBU-32 bombs. ★A total of seven marking options is included, covering aircraft from three nations.
