Tamiya 1/48 F-35A Lightning II Part 1

In this new series we're building Tamiya's new F-35 Lightning. Starting in Part 1 with the cockpit and engine intakes.
My Patreon pages are at www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=50...

[@dlthomson5287]

One thing to say about Tamiya kits is the fit of the parts is fantastic, I love hearing the 'click' as some parts snap together. I would like to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you and the same to you and yours 😃

[@danl.909]

@DL Thomson Isn’t that the truth about Tami kits? Their 1/32 Corsair kits are so well-fitting that they are an addictive pleasure to build. They certainly hooked me: I’ve built all three. I thought they couldn’t top them until they released their 1/48 P-38, which is an absolute wonder in that respect. Topping them all might be their big 1/32 de Havilland Mosquito we saw built here. They must set a frustrating example for other manufacturers. Few ever come close to matching their quality.

[@jeremymishefske1754]

Loving the build Steve! I love all your builds. I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy safe and blessed New year!

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Jeremy and the same to you and yours 😃

[@evanandgemma1]

Merry christmas Steve, hope you have a great one and thanks for another years supply of inspiration. Love watching your videos mate, you are a true craftsman.

[@TheModelShed]

I’m grateful for that Evan - thank you so much.

[@johnread2250]

I see a great man cave behind you. Not a modeler but admire your craft. I tye flies in my cave ! A man needs his space

[@TheModelShed]

Agreed John - keep tying 😃😃

[@simonworrall7950]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for a year of great videos.

[@TheModelShed]

You’re welcome Simon 👍

[@johntreloar8203]

Hi Steve, glad you are doing this kit, it's in my wish list, will also be following this build.

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks John 👍

[@paulsmodels]

Great so far! Looking forward to the next installment! Happy new year!

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Paul same to you

[@MachineHead3]

Nice build so far. I like the explanations you are doing. I only understand 80-90% (from Germany), but it’s really helpful and informative. Thank you!

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Christoph. you do well to understand that much - my accent is fairly strong 😬😬

[@davidbassett4577]

Another wonderful video .. wishing you and your family a Happy New Year

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks David and the same to you

[@bobbygee2528]

Starting mine tonight! so stoked... thanks for the video, very usefull.

[@TheModelShed]

Good luck with it it’s a nice kit for sure

[@ericb.davenport9762]

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the video.

[@TheModelShed]

You’re welcome Eric 👍

[@davidnelson5567]

Outstanding work and video! Thank you.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you David

[@craigjewkes]

Great start, and I like many Steve was crying "Nose wheel gear!" at the screen as you were building the nose wheel bay 😫😫. I really enjoy the way you put your builds together. Have a good Christmas and New year and look forward to what you make in 2023.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Craig and the same to you and yours 😃. I should watch my own videos a bit more 😬😬😬😂😂

[@David-tm4yj]

Tamiya make excellent kits, i'm waiting for the B variant in 1/48th scale and with this kit i can't wait till the B comes out. Great video, lots of info and detail. Keep up the good work and i am looking forward to part 2 😁

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks David 👍

[@foabmoab]

Got one of these stashed to work on soon. A note about the colour scheme for the F-35s, the paint is known as 'Have Glass', which is that peculiar, greyish brown, slightly metallic, satin look. Tamiya themselves don't make it, but it does exist in the AK Real Color line, as well as Hataka. I used it on the Tamiya rebox of the Italeri 1/72 F-35B kit. It probably still needed a little colour tweaking, and I recall the callouts for the RAM tape and the nose being one that was a little too bright (I think the actual colour is Light Ghost Grey, although some of the more recent U.S. aircraft are just painted all Have Glass with no marked out tape at all). Still, the modern stealth jets are always tricky to get an entirely accurate look for, especially the finish that changes depending on angle.

[@mickrobinson1112]

great work on cockpit, frontwheel bay and intakes

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Mick

[@ChrisK-LTC]

Quite a surprise to see you working on this kit......very nice work so far.

[@TheModelShed]

unusual subject for me Chris but I’m enjoying it.

[@lesthiele7645]

Hi Steve, this looks to be a very interesting build, so I will be following it with a lot of interest, not certain if I will get one, but never say never, and I think Tamiya is still one of the best if not THE build manufacturers about, all the very best to you and your family for Christmas and I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year, best wishes for 2023 from a Kiwi living in Australia.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Les and I hope you and your family have a great holiday too. 🙏👍

[@midnightmodeling1639]

So far so good 👍 thanx for sharing.

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks it’s ok so far

[@steveshanks2537]

Looking forward to this! I bought this for the stash but looks like I’m going to have to open it up over Christmas now! 😀

[@TheModelShed]

Hope you enjoy building it Steve - it’s going together great so far

[@steveshanks2537]

@@TheModelShed hope so, like you say I’m hoping it’s going to be a quicker build, opting for something a bit different and considering going for the Norwegian air to air version and maybe have a crack at a base depicting an icy runway or something, feels like a build unlikely to get bogged down with…I actually had a couple of hours earlier to start on the cockpit while everyone else popped to the in-laws🤫

[@FinsburyPhil]

Best wishes for 2023 Steve. This kit looks fantastic. Hopefully there'll be an RAF B version soon.

[@TheModelShed]

There probably will be Phil - let’s see

[@jlcsr9163]

I wouldn't normally build a kit such as this, but alas I couldn't resist the temptation. Sometimes you want an easy build.

[@TheModelShed]

You’ll get it with this one from what I’ve seen so far

[@mauserkk98]

Looking forward to more, have a good Christmas.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Nicholas and the same to you and yours 😃

[@eddywells5689]

Just finished watching your good and bismarck vids what an amazing job. The stamina and patience needed you must be model superman !!!!! 🙏🙏🍺🍺🍺🍺👍👍👍💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

[@TheModelShed]

👍

[@lesvenus3788]

This was a surprise!!! Nice one Steve

[@TheModelShed]

Cheers Les 👍

[@lesvenus3788]

Merry Christmas. Steve and a Happy New Year

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Les - same to you and yours 👍

[@modeltankguy]

wow the fit sounds so good (click) cnt wait to get mine going this year keep them coming

[@TheModelShed]

Will do - thanks 👍

[@jerryplews1023]

Should be a good build. Merry Christmas to you and your family steve.

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Jerry and the same to you and yours and thanks for all your support this year I really appreciate it 😃

[@paulmanuse2353]

That was a great surprise!! Happy Holydays!

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Paul same to you 👍

[@Chicken42069p]

I'll be following this!

[@TheModelShed]

👍

[@richelias2973]

Merry Christmas Steve to you and your family

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Rich and the same to you and yours 😃

[@UnderstatementJones1]

Love to see you build something outside your comfort zone - it lets us see new techniques and watch you puzzle through less familiar problems. Would love to see you do a car or a civil airliner sometime. Who are you building this for? Commission, or gift?

[@TheModelShed]

It’s a special request from Mrs Shed. Can’t really say no to that can I?

[@AlisonFort]

Have a great Christmas, Steve🎄

[@TheModelShed]

Thank you Alison and the same to you and yours 😃

[@bobkrulish732]

Thanks!

[@TheModelShed]

Hi Bob thank you so much for your support it’s much appreciated

[@bobkrulish732]

you are very welcome! @@TheModelShed

[@daveabbott]

Merry Christmas Steve, hope you have a great new year! Try Molotow Chrome, its unbelievable (just don't touch it or varnish it)

[@TheModelShed]

I will Dave thanks 👍

[@ronaldwatson7360]

Love this build very professional, can I ask how do avoid taking the paint off when gluing?

[@TheModelShed]

I wouldn’t worry about that Ronald you shouldn’t really be glueing painted surfaces anyway - it reduces the effectiveness of the cement if it’s styrene as it relies on plastic-plastic contact to work. Scrape the paint off the mating surfaces before applying the glue. Most poly cement will burn through paint anyway but I try to paint complete assemblies wherever possible.

[@martinfbrown1]

Main airframe colour should actually be FS36170 which is Camouflage Grey

[@ziggydoestanks2187]

Firstly love you builds and I am looking on with keen interest on this one as mine has just arrived to me and I am pawing over it now trying to work it onto my bench. One thing I have to ask though is what is the actual fuselage colour... I am presuming it is a mix but I have pawed over all the paper in the kit and I cannot see what or how it is mixed... driving me crazy. Thanks in advance for consideration of my question.

[@jefferychow1099]

is there something special about that cement you're using (I'm assuming it's Tamiya but I don't know specifically) that lets you use it on painted parts?

[@TheModelShed]

No Jeffery it’s just Tamiya extra thin quick setting

[@steveshanks2537]

Loving the way this is going together…however, tackling the cockpit decals atm…are they some sort of sick joke from Tamiya?🤨. Having to bring out my full range of decal solutions to try to get them stuck down let alone conform!

[@TheModelShed]

You're having the same experience as I Steve. The only way I could get them down was by using the softener type decal adhesive - feels like there is little or none on the decals themselves. I'm very dubious about using the panel borders on my version - I'm gearing myself up to painting them. I'd better get some more masking tape..............

[@steveshanks2537]

@@TheModelShed yeah, i agree, seems like there was no way they would stick on their own! I had some luck with the Tamiya stuff but found the Mr Hobby Mark Setter + Softer Neo seem to be working really quite well on the last one I tried🤞🏻

[@steveshanks2537]

@@TheModelShed I’m doing a late version RAM that I THINK might be the same colour as the panels and doesn’t use the tape decals🤞🏻 I honestly don’t think I could cope with decals for the tape, let alone with these ones! The last 2 cockpit decals went on rather nicely with the MR Mark white setter underneath and on top followed by a few copious layers the MR Mark Softer Neo and finally really pulled down with Tamiya MarkFit Super Strong Mine were on top of some Tamiya LP that was unmarked by any of the solutions

[@notme7378]

Hi Steve, where do you get your Mark Fit from? Seems to be quite difficult to get a hold of here in the UK!

[@TheModelShed]

I get my hard to find Tamiya stuff from super-hobby in Poland. They’re really good and postage to Uk isn’t bad either.

[@gort108]

Merry Christmas to everyone

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks David 🎄

[@danl.909]

Not the sort of subject that I find appealing, usually, but since it’s _The Model Shed_ , I’m in. Onward!

[@TheModelShed]

Thanks Dan - not my usual fare either but a change is as good as a rest 👍

[@sandronaf47]

Which doubleside tape do you use to apply the small parts?

[@TheModelShed]

It’s just from a stationery shop Sandro - nothing special

[@seantracy5638]

I really don’t understand the engineering of the front gear strut. Why does it need to glued and later cut in order to be retracted?

[@TheModelShed]

Hi Sean. It isn’t glued in at this stage - just held in place by the side bulkheads. Tamiya put the block on top to keep it tucked up in the gear bay during the next few stages of the build. Later in the build Tamiya have you cutting the block off allowing you to finish off the nose gear. It’s a bit unnecessary IMO which is why I cut the block off now. The legs stays up in the bay anyway.