F-35 WIP
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/2/5/5/1416255-77774-79-720.jpg)
Main reference - note the different colors on RAM coating (nose and intakes) and RAM tape.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/2/5/6/1416256-77774-41-720.jpg)
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/2/5/8/1416258-77774-96-720.jpg)
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/2/5/7/1416257-77774-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/2/5/9/1416259-77774-11-720.jpg)
Which main color works better? The middle one isn’t as dark in the naked eye.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/6/0/1416260-77774-58-720.jpg)
RAM coating color mixed with C317 C306 and SM204
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/1/2/5/1417125-77774-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/1/3/3/1417133-77774-76-720.jpg)
Incredible fit as always
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/5/8/9/1426589-77774-85-720.jpg)
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/5/9/4/1426594-77774-96-720.jpg)
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/5/9/0/1426590-77774-90-720.jpg)
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/5/9/1/1426591-77774-57-720.jpg)
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/5/9/2/1426592-77774-39-720.jpg)
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/5/9/3/1426593-77774-78-720.jpg)
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/0/8/1/1428081-77774-94-720.jpg)
Still some fillings to do
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/7/9/1428079-77774-89-720.jpg)
I always dread this step… I’m too afraid of losing details from sanding, especially raised ones which cannot be fixed by simply scribing
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/7/8/1428078-77774-55-720.jpg)
Hope this will turn out to be a smooth and sharp edge
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/0/8/0/1428080-77774-27-720.jpg)
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/8/7/3/1428873-77774-43-720.jpg)
I stripped the paint way to many times and still couldn’t get a dustless tint on the second canopy, I guess I’ll have to live with that
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/5/9/1444159-77774-18-720.jpg)
I really suck at putties
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/6/0/1444160-77774-73-720.jpg)
Checking the seams
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/1/5/8/1444158-77774-63-720.jpg)
Nose cone check
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/9/8/1/1446981-77774-38-720.jpg)
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/9/8/0/1446980-77774-55-720.jpg)
Fine surfacer 1500 black
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/9/8/2/1446982-77774-18-720.jpg)
Under strong light
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/9/8/3/1446983-77774-96-720.jpg)
Under normal light
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/4/5/6/1447456-77774-82-720.jpg)
Too shiny?
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/2/5/6/1452256-77774-59-720.jpg)
This masking set must have been a quick money grab for Galaxy Model, the fit was very hit and miss. They probably based this on their older F-35 masks and made small adjustments but only went half way… I would advise to find better alternatives for anyone building this kit.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/2/5/7/1452257-77774-58-720.jpg)
Also used lots of patches to cover the seams
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/2/5/5/1452255-77774-84-720.jpg)
RAM coating: grey and metallic mix, will mask them off for RAM tape (FS36231)
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/2/5/8/1452258-77774-92-720.jpg)
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/6/2/6/1453626-77774-26-720.jpg)
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/6/2/4/1453624-77774-58-720.jpg)
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/5/9/1452259-77774-36-720.jpg)
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/6/2/5/1453625-77774-25-720.jpg)
Sneak
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/5/5/4/1455554-77774-35-720.jpg)
Almost ready for varnishing
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/5/5/5/1455555-77774-65-720.jpg)
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/5/5/6/1455556-77774-40-720.jpg)
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/3/4/7/1459347-77774-39-720.jpg)
The masking set didn’t include these patches
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/3/4/6/1459346-77774-73-720.jpg)
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/8/1/8/1467818-77774-47-720.jpg)
Decals after some touch ups and gloss coat
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/8/1/9/1467819-77774-30-720.jpg)
I think this is one of the most magical steps, it brings the aircraft to life!
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/7/4/7/1473747-77774-39-720.jpg)
All decals on
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/7/4/8/1473748-77774-40-720.jpg)
Another gloss
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/7/4/0/1477740-77774-97-720.jpg)
Nozzle color mixed with dark yellow, burnt metal, and black
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/7/4/2/1477742-77774-68-720.jpg)
Wash with AK panel liner
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/7/4/3/1477743-77774-63-720.jpg)
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/7/4/1/1477741-77774-98-720.jpg)
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/7/4/4/1477744-77774-34-720.jpg)
Semi gloss after wash
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/7/4/5/1477745-77774-66-720.jpg)
Just a bit of weathering at the bottom
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/2/3/6/1478236-77774-41-720.jpg)
After the last layer of clear coat. I used a mix of super smooth flat and semigloss.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/2/3/4/1478234-77774-27-720.jpg)
Still pretty metallic under bright lighting
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/2/3/5/1478235-77774-31-720.jpg)
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/9/4/0/1478940-77774-57-720.jpg)
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/9/4/1/1478941-77774-30-720.jpg)
Shading with clear black
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/9/4/3/1478943-77774-99-720.jpg)
After weathering and flat clear
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/8/1/2/1482812-77774-55-720.jpg)
Ugh
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/8/1/3/1482813-77774-49-720.jpg)
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/8/1/1/1482811-77774-54-720.jpg)
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/8/1/5/1482815-77774-74-720.jpg)
Washing
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/8/1/6/1482816-77774-47-720.jpg)
Tires are washed with white panel liner
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/8/1/4/1482814-77774-39-720.jpg)
Landing gear assembly
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/8/1/7/1482817-77774-66-720.jpg)
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/8/6/3/1482863-77774-19-720.jpg)
All doors installed!
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/8/6/2/1482862-77774-46-720.jpg)
Almost done
Kommentarer
56 4 March 2023, 07:27
![](/profiles/img/77774-824-s.jpg)
Hey John, I used Mr. Color C305 SM204 GX2 at 3:1:1. In hindsight I probably should've mixed it a little darker.
13 April 2023, 21:19
![](/profiles/img/119072-388-s.jpg)
I used AK Have Glass, but the instructions from Tamiya will not show it.
14 April 2023, 21:28
![](/profiles/img/21997-347-s.jpg)
Models like yours make me wonder if I might like the F-35 after all. 😉 Great work 👍
18 May 2023, 20:20
![](/profiles/img/14213-529-s.jpg)
Very beautiful work! The armament bay is terrific, as are the colours chosen!
2 June 2023, 07:03
Album info
Building a flanker is wayyy to much work, better stick with Tamiya for my own sanity….