NEW 2025 REVELL F-35A LIGHTNING - FIRST LOOK!

[@barrywalker8790]

Looks like Revell is going in the right direction. It is a nice kit with clear instructions and a decent amount of detail looking forward to seeing you build this one 👍

[@Slycockney]

Thanks Gary, good review. I will definitely buy this and as a frequent visitor to Lakenheath will be doing that scheme. Am I dreaming or did Luke say there would be a tinted canopy in this kit?

[@mondriaa]

thanks for the review, looks like pretty cool kit

[@hueyJoe135]

Looks like a beautiful kit. Another great video Gary 😊

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Hiya Gary. Nice review and looks pretty good. I'll reserve judgement though and wait to see your build. Look forward to seeing your vid Gary. Take care mate 👍

[@julianmhall]

That disembodied pilot mask and helmet says 'elephant head' to me, with the trunk etc. *LOL* I like the silhouettes in the instructions as they remind you which stages you don't need for the version you're doing.

[@blarrrggg]

p-38 is the lightning we need

[@HellfireModels]

Looks pretty decent. The f-35's cockpit is fairly sparse, especially so because the instrument panel is just one big touchscreen so it's arguably the one and only case where decals are objectively the way to go. Can't wait to see how soon it takes for these to start showing up with enough flash to melt down and use for a second kit lmao

[@AndrewMcColl]

I'd love to see someone convert this kit to have an Ood pilot. The head swap seems easy enough, especially with some well-scaled 3D printing.

[@beefsuprem0241]

I wonder why they didn't go for the C model since there's not many available versions . There's already loads of different price point A models to buy.

[@garys_stuff]

Because they are a German company and Germany, like most off Europe, is buying the A model.

[@beefsuprem0241]

@garys_stuff Surely it would be better financially to go for a gap in the market rather than be really late to the party with yet another F35a. German company or not.

[@der_picard3370]

The markings of the german Version of course are only speculative, since Luftwaffe will get its first F-35 in 2026. .... A Tribute to the german customers and the german revell production line.

[@joseluiscastanorestrepo]

I have the F-35A Lightning II but the Academy version

[@markfranks1329]

Looks nice for what it is. I'm sure it'll build into a pleasing replica for someone. Personally, I find the F-35 and '22, aesthetically, rather awkward looking, particularly when on the ground. Having said that, however, I do find the F-35C more appealing. Maybe it's the chunkier nosewheel strut coupled with twin wheels as opposed to the rather spindly looking single unit of the A/B variants. It will be interesting to see the other manufacturers' interpretations of this type when they inevitably enter the fray. Good overview, Gary.

[@xyz-hj6ul]

Vague detail, almost to the point of looking melted/extruded, throughout the cockpit, pilot and select external panels. Panel lines on the back (Time Index 3:59) are very crude, soft and overscale. Weapons bay is, by contrast, actually very nice (as a survivor of the Italeri 'sink marks everywhere' sanity killing, 32nd example; the amount of detail is incredible...). Conversely, in other areas, structural members elsewhere are very crudely represented as simple, raised, lines. GBU-31/GBU-12 are okay but represent 1990s munition loads. No GBU-39/53, no SIAW or JSM etc. AIM-120C has a very poorly molded, blunt, radome and lacks faceting to the wings which appear to be different sizes and/or rounded on one of the tail fins? Both the Revell F-22 and F-16 series were much better done than this. Separate Canopy/Frame are always a bad idea as fogging and seam removal are especially hard to handle in smaller scales. The F-35 canopy often looks reddish-gold in tint, due to metallic coatings so perhaps this is done to enable 'dipping' in tinted clears but even so... If you want to see a very sweet looking F-35, done with 21st century tooling technologies, look to the Hasegawa. Having learned from the hullabaloo over their F-22 in 1/48, they molded the F-35 with recessed lines for everything, including RAM seals and provide various options for masking/decals on them as an easy mode solution to handpainting. Weapons loads vary by kit release but all come with an inflight stand option. The F-35 is a bit of a Cosco fighter with volume over variant emphasis meaning differences between service jets are minimal and the nature of stealth prohibiting most, colorful, markings. Still, the lack of simple, alternative: Israeli, Finnish, Polish, Japanese, Korean or Australian markings will limit the interest in this kit in one of the larger model markets in the world. Very nice, colorful yet reserved, Box Art and color instructions are always welcome. Revell Europe always does an excellent job here, compared to the U.S. equivalent. CONCLUSION: Considering this is actually the fifth iterative release (Italeri->Academy->Hasegawa->Tamiya) 1/72 toolings, the need to offer more or provide better purchase cost levels is essential to competing with high quality tools coming out of Asia for the same or lesser prices. Increasingly, Revell Europe offers neither price point nor mold quality levels reflective of what can be done with state of the art CATIA design tools, running 30-35 dollars per kit for plastic that is right out of the 1980s.

[@Smokeyr67]

It looks like an ok kit, but it would look better as a B model in 1/144, to fit the R/C 1/144 HMS QE / PoW that Im working on😃

[@garys_stuff]

Sadly remember that Revell is a German company and Germany isn't buying the B model!

[@Smokeyr67]

@garys_stuff yeah, hopefully Airfix will get the job done, but I think I'll be waiting for one of the Chinese manufacturers to give it a crack

[@garys_stuff]

@@Smokeyr67 probably Trumpeter, with the Japanese market right on their doorstep...

[@Smokeyr67]

@@garys_stuff Another option would be for me to buy a 3d printer, find a suitable file and loadup the Queen Lizzy with a full day CK, but that would mean I'd have to learn something new, and I haven't done that since last century

[@JoelDeeCee]

Doesn't look half bad on the runners, hopefully those panel lines don't look as heavy and deep as the finished product shown in the recent telford hobbyshow .

[@ianwilliamson6615]

I'm interested to know the price point first this kit, and expect it to be cheaper than Tamiya but more expensive than Airfix. If so it'll probably sell well worldwide.

[@garys_stuff]

Yes more expensive than Airfix but a very different type of kit - also the A model not the B model. With most of Europe opting for the A model, indeed around the world, it has the potential for huge sales. As the stores are on a separate frame it would be easy to update in the future for new weapons loads as well.

[@vogonpoet5860]

never thought I would ever say this but having just watched airfix 2025 spitfire /hurricane range program. airfix seem to be stagnating and Revell seem to be leaving them in the dust for kit variety for new releases, the F35A for revell a new kit, a VICTOR rerelease and the usual airfix "new decal scheme = new kit release" for airfix.

[@animaltvi]

Jeeze, how many more F35 A and Bs do we need. How about a C for a change. .

[@Damien-q8t]

Looks decent ...inrested in the German option

[@garys_stuff]

I think mine will be Dutch...

[@Damien-q8t]

@garys_stuff uo until i saw the video i wasnt even aware Germany and the Netherlands were using the F-35....i am doing the German 1 to go with my German Tornados,Eurofighter Typhoons,Mig-29 Starfighters and G-91

[@garys_stuff]

@@Damien-q8t great collection!!!

[@Damien-q8t]

@garys_stuff thanks Gary.👍

[@rustywarrior5288]

It looks very 'soft', almost as if it was a 20 year old tooling and doesn't inspire me to give Revell another go.

[@alexx86hater]

Honest question: what is the purpose of this kit? We already have F-35A from Italeri, Academy, Hasegawa and Tamiya. What could've save it some colorful decal options but it looks like boring "50 shades of gray" scheme. Unless it is going to be dirt cheap there is no reason for this model kit to exist, especially with typical Revell quality. PS: is the F-35A new P-51D that everyone is rushing to get one out of the door?

[@ScaleModellingTwins]

In the ‘80’s there was a large variety of aircraft kits from all manufacturers because people want to build what they see flying. These aircraft will be in the air for the next 40-odd years. There’s (almost) no other show in town because it can perform all roles and most western air forces are buying them for that reason. We’re going to have to get used to them, but they will grow more lumps and bumps as modifications are developed over time.

[@alexx86hater]

@@ScaleModellingTwins Ok, let me clarify my original question: why somebody would buy F-35A from revell with it's obvious typical Revell molding quality issues (not good panel lines, sandpaper-like surface, below average details) most likely issues when assembling it (would surprised if this one doesn't have one since all other revell models do) when for the same price you can get one from Tamiya (yes, looking at recent F-15E it looks like it is going to be the same price) or for a cheaper price you can get all closed up from Hasegawa or another beast mode from Academy.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Guys don’t hate me but that bag of bolts don’t deserve the name lightning ,all those doors flaps fans etc when we built the harrier with one engine and moving nozzles be kind if you don’t agree gang it’s just my opinion vainights 😂 Cheers Mark

[@animaltvi]

I'm with you on that one. . The F35 is just overly expensive and overhyped. Never did see the point of scrapping the harrier for this thing. .

[@harryaudia6]

I'll stick to my Tamiya 1/72 F-35 model.

[@paulkerry666]

I have to admit that I didn’t know that the Germans had any F-35s , something else to read up upon 😂

[@garys_stuff]

I believe they are on order, or may have recently started taking delivery. Ultimately I think most of NATO has them on order....

[@ModellbauerHolzer-by7]

Yes, Germany orderd F-35. The paint scheme is a mockup from the ILA

[@paulkerry666]

@ModellbauerHolzer-by7 Thanks

[@Grungir2]

Not a very impressive kit in my opinion, the interior especially. Also not sure what's with all the F-35 hype , we seem to get a lot of kits from all makers of this airplane. I for one find the F-35 very uninteresting and bland so I do hope for some other and more interesting kits. Thanks for the review Gary!

[@paulcorrigan649]

Great review Gary. At risk of sounding like a stuck record, it's ok. It's nothing spectacular, there are better F35 kits out there. For a big relaunch of the brand it's very underwhelming. Admittedly the F35 itself is a fairly unimpressive aircraft from a modelling perspective, as a weapon of war it's quite the opposite. But as a model it's just not that special and this kit just leaves me feeling a bit indifferent. Revell still have a very, very long way to go. I despair at the state of the English language that "beast mode" is now part of the common lexicon. Nothing that you've said Gary, it's the same for all kids of this aircraft

[@garys_stuff]

Yes, I have heard "beast mode" used in Formula One commentary as well. I would say that the new version of Revell will probably be at least a year or two further away, only because new tooling projects take 1-2 years (or more) to come to fruition. So even if Luke has been able to convince them to do, say, three new tools per year instead of one, we won't see them until next year at the earliest. That's if he has been allowed to go that far, of course. I'll be chatting with him ahead of the official range announcement on 28th so I can ask him about this.

[@paulcorrigan649]

@garys_stuff it'll be interesting to see what Luke has to say. I just can't but think he's on a hiding to nothing. Even if they are doing more than one new tooling per year, the quality will have to improve substantially because whilst the F35 is ok, that's the problem. It's ok. And other companies like Eduard, ICM, Meng even Airfix are doing far, far superior molding. I used to enjoy revell but it's just a dying fourth division brand these days and I think Luke is wasted where he is

[@PaulBooth222]

To be honest Gary, that looks poor compared to the Tamiya offerings. Seems to be very soft & waxy. Thanks for the review but I'll definitely pass on this one. Besides, I've just seen the Airfix release video and I realise when you see me again at Telford, it won't be in the restaurant but outside playing guitar and trying to fund it 😢

[@garys_stuff]

Luke did tell me the plastic is from China and not what they will get from the factory in Poland...

[@runehau1]

Looked a bit crude I must say.

[@thetoon50]

Not impressed