Tamiya adds masks, stickers & decals to their 48th scale F-35C test build…

Sprues, decals & masks add to Tamiya’s test build of their new 48th scale F-35C…

LOCKHEED F-35C LIGHTNING II

From Tamia

1/48th scale

Length: 327mm, wingspan: 273mm.

Six marking choices are included in the box We have all the details so far in our preview…

Sprues, decals & masks add to Tamiya’s test build of their new 48th scale F-35C…

LOCKHEED F-35C LIGHTNING II

From Tamia

1/48th scale

Length: 327mm, wingspan: 273mm.

Six marking choices are included in the box.

Seated pilot figure, masks included.

Available by December 2024

The Subject – Lockheed’s F-35C Lightning II

The F-35C is the first and world’s only long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for Navy carrier operations. The F-35 has a very low-observable performance due to its configuration, integrated sensors, internal weapons and fuel capacity, aligned edge, and modern manufacturing methods. This enables pilots to evade enemy detection and operate in anti-access and contested environments, improving lethality and survivability.

F-35C taking off the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson

The Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) and Helmet Mounted Display System allow the pilot to see everything in the battlespace with unprecedented situational awareness. It can be used as a battle manager and intelligence asset, which shares information with all the networked air, ground and sea assets. This ensures men and women in uniform can execute their mission and come home safe.

F35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to the “Argonauts”

The F-35C carries nearly 20,000 lbs of internal fuel and has a range of greater than 1,200 nm. This allows F-35C Pilots to stay in the desired battlespace for longer without refuelling. C-variants’ wingtips can be folded to create more space on a carrier’s deck when deployed. The F-35C is able to fly at higher speeds with its internal fuel load and weaponry, as it does not have the external weapons and tanks that are required by legacy fighters.

An F-35 C Lightning II lands aboard USS Nimitz. The F-35C is capable of carrying more than 5 kilos of internal weapons or 18,000 pounds of external and internal weapons combined. The Navy can operate stealthily when needed, and increase the lethality of the aircraft by adding external weapons when airspace is available. The Joint Strike Fighter Wing is located at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The U.S. Marine Corps is also acquiring F-35C aircraft along with their F-35BSs.

F-35C Lightning II at-sea trials

The Kit:

Following their 1/48th scale F-35A and F-35B kits, which became the flagships of Tamiya’s 48th scale range last year, this new kit of the carrier-based F-35C in 1/48th scale looks sure to follow on in their footsteps. We have images of the sprue layouts, the completed test kit from many angles, and a feature list for this kit

Tamiya’s Lightning II range is now complete with the A,B & C models.

Kit features:

Shown below you can see the test kit built up and the rivets high lightened (or darkened in this case) with a panel liner to show the details more clearly.

Once assembled, this 1/48th scale plastic model has a wingspan of 222mm, & a fuselage length of 326mm.