F35A Lightning II (Italeri) | Build Log
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/5/8/0/1643580-137139-73-720.jpg)
Ejection seat parts
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/5/8/2/1643582-137139-47-720.jpg)
Ejection seat assembled
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/5/8/1/1643581-137139-38-720.jpg)
Assembled and painted, with a wash
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/5/8/4/1643584-137139-55-720.jpg)
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/5/8/3/1643583-137139-63-720.jpg)
F18 pilot (the only figure I had remotely close to the jet age)
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/5/8/5/1643585-137139-86-720.jpg)
Painted figure
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/5/8/6/1643586-137139-54-720.jpg)
With a wash
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/1/0/8/1647108-137139-75-720.jpg)
Photoetch seatbelts
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/1/0/7/1647107-137139-98-720.jpg)
Adding PE foot pedals
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/1/0/9/1647109-137139-91-720.jpg)
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/1/1/0/1647110-137139-26-720.jpg)
Finished dashboard
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/1/1/8/1647118-137139-49-720.jpg)
Pilot in the seat. The seatbelts are loose since they didn't quite fit
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/1/1/2/1647112-137139-61-720.jpg)
Cockpit before assembly
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/1/1/1/1647111-137139-69-720.jpg)
Cockpit with dashboard installed
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/1/1/3/1647113-137139-59-720.jpg)
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/1/1/4/1647114-137139-67-720.jpg)
The pilot had to go under reconstructive leg surgery because his legs were too long. I had to cut each leg off and then shorten it at the knee, then reattach it.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/1/1/5/1647115-137139-89-720.jpg)
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/1/1/6/1647116-137139-27-720.jpg)
Cockpit mated into the fuselage
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/1/7/1647117-137139-52-720.jpg)
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/3/5/6/1648356-137139-61-720.jpg)
Weapons bay parts
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/3/5/5/1648355-137139-50-720.jpg)
Weapons bay assembled
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/3/5/7/1648357-137139-56-720.jpg)
Pre shading weapons bay
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/5/9/1648359-137139-20-720.jpg)
Weapons bay painted and with a wash
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/3/5/8/1648358-137139-32-720.jpg)
Weapons bay installed into fuselage
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/5/5/0/1649550-137139-26-720.jpg)
Air intake parts
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/5/4/9/1649549-137139-25-720.jpg)
Assembled air intake
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/5/5/1/1649551-137139-32-720.jpg)
Turbofan parts
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/5/5/2/1649552-137139-74-720.jpg)
Assembled F135 engine
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/5/5/5/1649555-137139-92-720.jpg)
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/5/5/3/1649553-137139-60-720.jpg)
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![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/5/6/0/1649560-137139-49-720.jpg)
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![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/8/5/3/1652853-137139-82-720.jpg)
Landing gear bay parts
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/8/5/7/1652857-137139-22-720.jpg)
Landing gear parts
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/8/5/8/1652858-137139-48-720.jpg)
Assembled and painted landing gears
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/8/6/0/1652860-137139-16-720.jpg)
Landing gears mated to the fuselage
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/8/5/9/1652859-137139-25-720.jpg)
Nose gear bay and parts
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/8/6/1/1652861-137139-80-720.jpg)
Assembled nose gear
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/8/6/2/1652862-137139-55-720.jpg)
Nose gear mated to fuselage
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/8/6/4/1652864-137139-11-720.jpg)
Top and bottom of fuselage mated
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/8/6/3/1652863-137139-47-720.jpg)
Nose added to fuselage
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/4/4/8/1653448-137139-85-720.jpg)
Control surface parts
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/4/4/9/1653449-137139-77-720.jpg)
Control surfaces assembled
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/4/5/0/1653450-137139-15-720.jpg)
Ailerons added to wings
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/4/5/2/1653452-137139-94-720.jpg)
Wings and elevons mated to fuselage
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/4/5/1/1653451-137139-23-720.jpg)
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/6/3/3/1655633-137139-43-720.jpg)
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/6/4/2/1655642-137139-39-720.jpg)
Some gap filling for the wings
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/6/4/4/1655644-137139-75-720.jpg)
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/6/4/1/1655641-137139-22-720.jpg)
Ladder access hatch closed
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/6/5/1/1655651-137139-92-720.jpg)
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/6/4/6/1655646-137139-14-720.jpg)
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/6/5/2/1655652-137139-59-720.jpg)
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/6/5/3/1655653-137139-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/6/5/7/1655657-137139-60-720.jpg)
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/6/4/9/1655649-137139-78-720.jpg)
Vertical stabilizer parts
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/6/6/2/1655662-137139-90-720.jpg)
Vertical stabilizers assembled
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/6/6/0/1655660-137139-91-720.jpg)
Vertical stabilizers attached to fuselage
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/6/6/1/1655661-137139-30-720.jpg)
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/6/6/3/1655663-137139-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/6/6/5/1655665-137139-16-720.jpg)
![Album image #66 Album image #66](/albums/img/6/6/4/1655664-137139-80-720.jpg)
![Album image #67 Album image #67](/albums/img/6/6/6/1655666-137139-74-720.jpg)
Ready for main body paint job (other subassemblies will be painted and attached separately to make things cleaner in the end)
![Album image #68 Album image #68](/albums/img/4/1/6/1659416-137139-45-720.jpg)
Masking off pre-painted areas
![Album image #69 Album image #69](/albums/img/4/1/5/1659415-137139-67-720.jpg)
![Album image #70 Album image #70](/albums/img/4/1/4/1659414-137139-41-720.jpg)
Coated with Vallejo black primer. Ready for some pre-shading
![Album image #71 Album image #71](/albums/img/4/9/9/1661499-137139-22-720.jpg)
Pre-shading done! Ready to move on to the real paint job
![Album image #72 Album image #72](/albums/img/5/0/1/1661501-137139-43-720.jpg)
![Album image #73 Album image #73](/albums/img/5/0/0/1661500-137139-48-720.jpg)
Started painting with the light grey tone that is used for the radar tape and nose. Next to mask that off and go over the whole aircraft with it's darker grey fuselage color
![Album image #74 Album image #74](/albums/img/5/0/2/1661502-137139-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #75 Album image #75](/albums/img/6/5/5/1669655-137139-57-720.jpg)
I wish I was exaggerating when I say that it took me 18 hours to mask off all the light grey areas. The kit comes with some sticker masks but those account for less than 25% of what needed to be masked for this kit. You can see the sticker masks that came with the kit in white, whereas the rest of my tape here is green and yellow
![Album image #76 Album image #76](/albums/img/6/5/6/1669656-137139-71-720.jpg)
![Album image #77 Album image #77](/albums/img/1/6/8/1670168-137139-30-720.jpg)
It's finally starting to take shape after the main coat! Peeling off all that tape was very satisfying. The contrast between the 2 greys is a bit too stark for my liking, so after cleaning up a few small areas, I'll apply a thin coat of grey over the whole thing to help blend the colors together a bit
![Album image #78 Album image #78](/albums/img/1/6/9/1670169-137139-70-720.jpg)
![Album image #79 Album image #79](/albums/img/1/7/0/1670170-137139-65-720.jpg)
![Album image #80 Album image #80](/albums/img/9/3/4/1672934-137139-43-720.jpg)
Softened up the contrast a great deal by adding a few thin coats of a different grey shade.
![Album image #81 Album image #81](/albums/img/9/3/2/1672932-137139-92-720.jpg)
![Album image #82 Album image #82](/albums/img/9/3/3/1672933-137139-38-720.jpg)
![Album image #83 Album image #83](/albums/img/4/5/7/1673457-137139-21-720.jpg)
Disaster struck today as I tried to darken the whole plane today. I tried to add a thin layer of a black-ish color to darken the whole thing. It ended up being patchy and I kept adding layers to try to even put the coat. I'm really unhappy with how it looks now, so I'll be promptly stripping all the paint off the fuselage and starting over. I've ordered some new paint which matches the exact colors of the F35, so no more guesswork trying to mix paints. Not looking forward to another 18 hours of masking, but you love and you learn.
![Album image #84 Album image #84](/albums/img/4/5/6/1673456-137139-87-720.jpg)
![Album image #85 Album image #85](/albums/img/8/2/3/1676823-137139-40-720.jpg)
Spent a few hours stripping all the paint off, then re-primed the whole thing with a light ghost grey. This is, according to the US Navy, the exact color these are painted (in the trim sections). It looks a bit light to me but we'll see how it looks once the main fuselage color is on.
![Album image #86 Album image #86](/albums/img/8/2/4/1676824-137139-97-720.jpg)
![Album image #87 Album image #87](/albums/img/4/6/6/1700466-137139-14-720.jpg)
Finally repainted after that catastrophe! Took another 30 hours to get back to this point. I'm ready to move on with the build.
![Album image #88 Album image #88](/albums/img/4/6/7/1700467-137139-86-720.jpg)
![Album image #89 Album image #89](/albums/img/4/6/5/1700465-137139-14-720.jpg)
![Album image #90 Album image #90](/albums/img/6/5/7/1710657-137139-46-720.jpg)
Starting on weapon bay and landing gear doors
![Album image #91 Album image #91](/albums/img/6/5/6/1710656-137139-75-720.jpg)
![Album image #92 Album image #92](/albums/img/6/5/8/1710658-137139-16-720.jpg)
![Album image #93 Album image #93](/albums/img/6/6/0/1710660-137139-15-720.jpg)
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![Album image #95 Album image #95](/albums/img/6/6/1/1710661-137139-22-720.jpg)
![Album image #96 Album image #96](/albums/img/6/6/3/1710663-137139-70-720.jpg)
![Album image #97 Album image #97](/albums/img/6/6/2/1710662-137139-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #98 Album image #98](/albums/img/6/6/4/1710664-137139-70-720.jpg)
![Album image #99 Album image #99](/albums/img/6/6/6/1710666-137139-69-720.jpg)
![Album image #100 Album image #100](/albums/img/6/6/5/1710665-137139-37-720.jpg)
![Album image #101 Album image #101](/albums/img/6/6/7/1710667-137139-72-720.jpg)
![Album image #102 Album image #102](/albums/img/6/6/8/1710668-137139-82-720.jpg)
![Album image #103 Album image #103](/albums/img/6/6/9/1710669-137139-57-720.jpg)
All doors painted and ready to attach to the airframe. I'll probably save this for the last step because it looks like a rather fragile addition and I don't want to risk snapping one of the doors off while I paint up the rest of the plane
![Album image #104 Album image #104](/albums/img/5/9/6/1711596-137139-89-720.jpg)
Exhaust can and cover parts
![Album image #105 Album image #105](/albums/img/5/9/8/1711598-137139-44-720.jpg)
Exhaust cover painted
![Album image #106 Album image #106](/albums/img/5/9/7/1711597-137139-53-720.jpg)
Exhaust can painted
![Album image #107 Album image #107](/albums/img/5/9/9/1711599-137139-20-720.jpg)
Installed the bottom of the exhaust cover
![Album image #108 Album image #108](/albums/img/6/0/0/1711600-137139-58-720.jpg)
Installed the exhaust can and the top of the exhaust cover
![Album image #109 Album image #109](/albums/img/4/0/9/1718409-137139-28-720.jpg)
Decals applied to the main airframe, just need to attach wheels, canopy, and armaments next
![Album image #110 Album image #110](/albums/img/4/0/8/1718408-137139-94-720.jpg)
![Album image #111 Album image #111](/albums/img/3/7/9/1721379-137139-40-720.jpg)
Wing pylon part
![Album image #112 Album image #112](/albums/img/3/8/0/1721380-137139-27-720.jpg)
More wing pylon parts
![Album image #113 Album image #113](/albums/img/3/8/5/1721385-137139-96-720.jpg)
Assembled pylons
![Album image #114 Album image #114](/albums/img/3/9/0/1721390-137139-55-720.jpg)
Assembled and painted pylons
![Album image #115 Album image #115](/albums/img/3/8/4/1721384-137139-45-720.jpg)
Sidewinder mount parts
![Album image #116 Album image #116](/albums/img/3/8/7/1721387-137139-10-720.jpg)
Assembled sidewinder mounts
![Album image #117 Album image #117](/albums/img/3/9/2/1721392-137139-13-720.jpg)
Painted sidewinder mounts
![Album image #118 Album image #118](/albums/img/3/8/1/1721381-137139-96-720.jpg)
AIM-120 parts
![Album image #119 Album image #119](/albums/img/3/8/3/1721383-137139-75-720.jpg)
Assembled AIM-120s
![Album image #120 Album image #120](/albums/img/3/9/5/1721395-137139-29-720.jpg)
Painted AIM-120, ready to be mounted into the airframe
![Album image #121 Album image #121](/albums/img/3/8/2/1721382-137139-32-720.jpg)
JDAM parts
![Album image #122 Album image #122](/albums/img/3/8/6/1721386-137139-92-720.jpg)
Assembled JDAMs
![Album image #123 Album image #123](/albums/img/3/9/7/1721397-137139-40-720.jpg)
Painted JDAM, ready to be mounted to the wing pylon
![Album image #124 Album image #124](/albums/img/3/8/8/1721388-137139-37-720.jpg)
Sidewinder parts
![Album image #125 Album image #125](/albums/img/3/8/9/1721389-137139-67-720.jpg)
Assembled sidewinders
![Album image #126 Album image #126](/albums/img/3/9/1/1721391-137139-19-720.jpg)
Landing light parts
![Album image #127 Album image #127](/albums/img/3/9/6/1721396-137139-49-720.jpg)
Assembled and painted landing lights
![Album image #128 Album image #128](/albums/img/3/9/4/1721394-137139-44-720.jpg)
Painted gear bay supports and AIM-120 gear bay mount
![Album image #129 Album image #129](/albums/img/3/9/3/1721393-137139-28-720.jpg)
Added the gear bay supports to the bay door
![Album image #130 Album image #130](/albums/img/3/9/8/1721398-137139-93-720.jpg)
Added all the armaments to the wings! We're almost done with the build now. Just need to add the canopy, wheels, and some other small parts
![Album image #131 Album image #131](/albums/img/0/1/7/1724017-137139-92-720.jpg)
Nose radar section parts
![Album image #132 Album image #132](/albums/img/0/1/6/1724016-137139-88-720.jpg)
Radar assembled and attached
![Album image #133 Album image #133](/albums/img/0/1/8/1724018-137139-86-720.jpg)
Wheel parts
![Album image #134 Album image #134](/albums/img/0/2/0/1724020-137139-41-720.jpg)
Wheels assembled
![Album image #135 Album image #135](/albums/img/0/2/1/1724021-137139-98-720.jpg)
Wheels painted
![Album image #136 Album image #136](/albums/img/0/2/2/1724022-137139-72-720.jpg)
Wheels attached!
![Album image #137 Album image #137](/albums/img/0/2/3/1724023-137139-33-720.jpg)
![Album image #138 Album image #138](/albums/img/0/2/4/1724024-137139-95-720.jpg)
Added a tiny bit of weathering over the top of the airframe, in a copper-ish burnt umber tone to simulate heat rash that I've seen on some F35s
![Album image #139 Album image #139](/albums/img/0/2/5/1724025-137139-18-720.jpg)
![Album image #140 Album image #140](/albums/img/5/1/0/1725510-137139-79-720.jpg)
Beacon light parts
![Album image #141 Album image #141](/albums/img/5/1/1/1725511-137139-36-720.jpg)
Painted the underside of the clear parts with acrylic ink to preserve some transparency. Came out pretty good I think
![Album image #142 Album image #142](/albums/img/5/0/9/1725509-137139-62-720.jpg)
Installed the beacon lights
![Album image #143 Album image #143](/albums/img/3/2/2/1727322-137139-15-720.jpg)
Got the canopy and the pilot tubes installed. It was a struggle getting the canopy on there, the fit is absolutely terrible. You can see that it didn't fit perfectly but fixing that is above my current skill level as a modeler
![Album image #144 Album image #144](/albums/img/3/2/0/1727320-137139-82-720.jpg)
She's finally done! This aircraft was an absolute tape queen. I am pretty happy with how it came out, it's not perfect but I think it's my best work so far. Now to make the base before calling this project done.
![Album image #145 Album image #145](/albums/img/3/2/1/1727321-137139-64-720.jpg)
![Album image #146 Album image #146](/albums/img/3/2/4/1727324-137139-22-720.jpg)
I found this wood plaque at Michaels that looks like it'll be the perfect size for the base.
![Album image #147 Album image #147](/albums/img/3/2/3/1727323-137139-16-720.jpg)
Going to use cork as the actual material that gets painted up to look like concrete. Cut the cork to size here
![Album image #148 Album image #148](/albums/img/2/6/1/1728261-137139-86-720.jpg)
Painted up the base to look like a parking spot. Added some tire streaking too
![Album image #149 Album image #149](/albums/img/2/6/0/1728260-137139-71-720.jpg)
The plane on the base. More pics to come!
![Album image #150 Album image #150](/albums/img/8/5/9/1728859-137139-16-720.jpg)
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Commenti
47 20 January, 04:10
![](/profiles/img/132875-803-s.jpg)
How'd I miss this build so far!? Looks awesome..we can tell you have put the hours in to making it as good as it is! 👍
24 February, 00:51
![](/profiles/img/127872-122-s.jpg)
This is looking very good. That masking must have been painful to do.
24 February, 14:57
![](/profiles/img/137139-966-s.jpg)
Thanks Jennifer! Yeah it was quite a pain. I wish the sticker masks that came with the kit lined up better with the actual panel lines in some areas, as now I have to go and touch those areas up before moving on
25 February, 06:50