*Quick Look Review* Tamiya 1/72 F-35B Lightning II

Is this, the brand new Tamiya F-35B in 1/72 as good as we expect from Tamiya nowadays? Find out here, in today's quick look review of this hot off the press brand new kit.

[lesvenus]

A fabulous review Jen. I saw the F 35 flying at RAF Coningsby and it’s really impressive and staggeringly loud!

Just a passing thought, imagine if Tamiya released an English Electric Lightning as good as this!

[johnkelly]

Another nice review, Jen. Looks like a lovely kit as to be expected from Tamiya. .You echoed my thoughts ref the real thing but I am tempted by the model. A splendid selection of grey decals too.. Extra points for exemplary use of tweezers on the dreaded Tamiya staple.

[paulkerry]

The 1:72 Hasegawa F-35B is a nice kit too. I agree F-35B is dull - give me a Harrier anytime 😂

[larsjensen]

Hi Jen
Thanks for a brilliant review. Being 61, i think i will have a hard time remembering to call sprues something else😃
I think the Lightning will look fantastic in High visibility US Navy screen from the seventies, maybe VF-111 Sundowners.
The stealth will get it to the target, and the paint job will bafle the opponent enough to get a kill 😄
Happy modeling Lars

[markryan]

As you said, as a modeling subject they are quite bland; having seen the A and B at RIAT2024 and the B perform, it is impressive. After RIAT I took to investigating which kits too buy haha. In real life they still look bland, yet impressive....I couldn't help but just standing and gawking at them endlessly trying to tease out some detail. Yet I wish I could have flown one ha. Though F-15E still does it for me. Thank you for a great review.

[Claymore]

What a lovely looking kit! Never been an F-35 fanboy but I might just have to get one and do a fictious 809 Sqn FAA CAG bird....

[BobbyG-bpxr]

Wonderful review Jen of a wonderful kit! Looks incredibly engineered, just like the 1/48 version. I'm a bit like you, I usually buy a kit because I have an interest in that particular subject, but as a model, the F-35 doesn't float my boat. However, when a kit looks this good, you could, at a push!, overlook that fact as I'm sure this will be an amazing build experience and when built, will be one of your favourite model's.
Might even be tempted to do it in a 'what if' scheme! Although at that
great review Jen thanks! 👏 👏

[billestew]

Good review Jen, looks like a great kit, I think it makes more sense to have the panel hiding tape be done with decalling but you could probably manage that on your own if you cared that much, I think it is a great looking aircraft, very futuristic

[richardgraham]

It looks like a superb kit. I can't help wondering if any further releases are in the pipeline as there are holes indicated for wing pylons. So perhaps a "beast mode" variant with air to ground weapons, maybe a parked example with a fully detailed weapons bay?

[haraldsydness]

Being a 'fanboy' or indeed a 'fangirl' is nothing to be shy about! Tamyia kits get their reputation for a very good reason, the kits are just sublime! This one wasn't something I was going to get, however, now I will!

[RaduB.]

So you lead us into temptation...
I would've been curious to find out how would Hasegawa's F-35B fare against this kit.
But after seeing how impressed you were with it, I doubt that Hasegawa would stand a chance.

[MartinSparks-efgr]

Hi Jen . I had no interest in the 1/48 tamiya A version until i saw the instructions on scalemates . When i saw the engineering and detail included, i bought one when they came out . Pretty good value all in with decal options and r.a.m decals . M

[tarkas]

Excellent review of what looks to be a very good kit, but not one that I will be getting for one big reason. I am considerably pleased to see that Tamiya have included a pilot -- and a nicely detailed one with separate arms and head IIRC -- and I like the options to build the aircraft in the hover or on the deck, BUT... you can't build it in flight! Once again, the manufacturer insists on limiting a modeller's choice. For Finagle's sake, this is an aircraft, so why can't you build it doing what it does -- flying?! If this had parts for the engine fully aft and the gear doors closed, I'd be down to my FLMS tomorrow -- but no. This kit looks to be even worse in that respect than most modern kits because it has no way in which the engine can be modelled other than in the hover/landing position. I'm used to dealing with depicting the undercarriage up and adding crew, but this is too much. So the video is very good but the kit is lacking.

[slotcarpalace]

I have to admit this kit has my nose somewhat out of joint. I have the "A" as that will be the eventual RCAF version, but this kit has a level of detail that quite surpasses it. There is no weapons bay! Instead you get wing pylons with Amraams, Sidewiders or LGB's, external pods etc.
I want a weapons bay!!! But not enough to be a B and try to cross kit them.
Congratulations on the use of plethora! Always a pleasure to listen to you as well!

[arrrgee]

I built the Italeri Kit from the Tamiya boxing a few years ago, you can see how they took that as a base and improved upon it, particularly around the weapons bays and engine area.
Also Jen, after your White F-35, maybe one in primer, or a mini white one?

[RaduB.]

Me again... Are the details on the A variant equally restrained as on their B variant (Tamiya 1:72nd I mean.)

[phobia.]

I just picked this up and was a little surprised with the number of parts, in a good way of course. The only thing I wish they included was the belly mounted gun pod.