Tamiya 1/48 F35 LIGHTNING II, Take a look inside ( Complete kit preview) 

Can't wait to build this for my son, a Cadet at the Air Force Academy. He recently spent an afternoon with F-35s and the crews. He always wanted to fly the F-15 not this because he likes the manual controls and not the automation but after his visit with the F-35s, now, after graduation, if all goes well, he really wants to fly the F-35 instead. All he could say was it's an incredible aircraft!

Tamiya showed this kit at the Orange County' IPMS OrangeCon couple of weeks ago. It is a stunning model and one of the largest Decal sets I have ever seen for a aircraft model.

Thanks Andy your shop reminds of the late 80s and 90s hobby shops that no longer exist.

Yeah the Netherlands decals

This is a stunning kit. Tamiya pulled out all the stops on this kit. I am an armor/figure modeler but I might try this kit.

Hopefully Tamiya will also release a B & C version of this kit. It looks absolutely fabulous.

What a piece of kit, what a product!! Five years!! Fantastic! Thank You for makinh such a nice video, and Thanks to Tamiya for such great product!!

My father was stationed there from 1974 to 1976 when the F-15s were first deployed. I loved having them fly over regularly. I would love to see the F-35s as regularly.

Very nice unboxing and parts review Andy, you've generated enough interest for me to mentally add to my wish list.

This is the first review I see about this kit. This kit is a very big surprise! The quality looks really good, details are amazing. A lot a pieces, a lot of details, I’m fan! 😁 Thank you for sharing this. 👍🏻

It's a Tamiya kit so I know it's going to be an exceptional model kit.

Looks a cracking kit. Glad that Tamiya go into great detail with what colours to paint all the wiring.

can't believe it's really there this early. You are amazing Andy!

Excellent review. Look forward to your build. As always, thank you.

great kit reveal Andy! many thanks! 👍🙂

Thanks for my fantastic Sherman Andy! You put a lot of work into that kit and it shows.The F-35 is another must have kit but she will have to wait.

Thank you for sharing the video! It was very helpful. Looking forward to the release.

Great review Andy of a fantastic looking kit .

Another Armor guy here.... And I'm going to give this kit a try. It looks like a good challenge. Thanks Andy!

Preordered from Andy and can’t wait to get it.👍🏻👍🏻

Great review Andy, I just preordered mine. Thanx for sharing.

Brake chute assy too for us norwegians. This is a must have. Thanks for posting this!

Gave you a view, a like and a comment for the algorithm simply because you used the correct term preview rather than review, this is the change I want to see in the community.

So now you know how to make an AHHQ commercial for this kit. Just have one of the airbase boys land one of this things in front of your shop and then have him proceed inside to buy the kit, ask Tamyia, maybe they will cash in ;D

Nice kit!❤

Awesome kit can’t wait for it’s release

WOW!!!!! Tamiya again shows that they are the world leader in state of the art plastic..

so detailed that it reminds me more of a 1/32 rather than 1/48 - a must for the stash

Looking like a sweet kit. Cleaning the airbrush off...

Cool but as a Navy brat I need the F-35C variant. The A is the Air Force variant.

That's a great model Andy!!!

I was just looking for a 1/48 F-35 kit, this is beautiful timing. Pre ordering as we speak

This is the first kit to get the augmentor and exhaust cone correct (I work on the engines). The RAM is still disappointing being elevated as it is, but I will still get this kit. Also, damn that weapons bay is impressive!

Absolutely beautiful!!

Awesome kit! Really really amazing from the initial pictures I saw. A must-have, I must say. I think I'd forgo buying a new a/b in favor of this one.

Wow! What an incredible kit! Tamiya once again giving us a near perfect model kit.

Can't wait to see one built...hint, hint...

Looks like a great kit

Just place my order Thank you very much Andy 🎉👍🏻

I gotta get one! I hope you build this sample up on your channel sometime soon. Thanks for the sneak peek.

海外でもタミヤのプラモデルが喜ばれてるの嬉しいです！ with love from Japan💕💕

Should make a beautiful kit. Thanks for video.

Awesome kit! I can't wait! Also, I received my " Easy Eight " Sherman today. Man what a kit! It is huge. I was pulling sprue after sprue out of this box. Didn't think it was going to end. Well done Andy! Thanks for the bonus pin as well. Can't wait to get started. 👍

Great kit I have the Trumpeter version but gonna have to get that to wishes it was 35th scale

Very nice kit,

Luv Tamiya!

And I thought Tamiya's 1/48 F-4B/N Phantom II was one of THE BEST 1/48 kits up to date. Now they give us an F-35A, will we see a NAVY and a U.S. MARINES version coming soon? I would love to see Tamiya do an accurate 1/48 F-22 Raptor.......... Please Tamiya, make it happen!!!!

Looks like a very nice kit might have to get one

Nice review, thanks. Someday there will be Canadian livery decals on that sheet now too! ;)

YES!!!!!!!!!

This is an amazing looking kit! So much detail, this is going to be a painters dream kit and I can't wait for someone to come up with a decal cutting file for Cricut!

Looks very nice! I hope they do an F-22 soon.

Hello Andy ! I don't speak English (I'm French), but I watch your videos. It's so great!! I have ordered the Jeep Takom 1016 1/16 US WWII on your European site and will soon also order the 1/16 M4A3E8 Sherman "Easy Eight". i would venture to make one suggestion: produce the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, WWII 1/16, . That would be really great Hoping this will be one of your future projects, I will continue to follow your very informative videos even if I don't understand all the words.

Looks like one HELL of a project. Should be a HOOT upon completion!!!!!

Wow, very nice! Thank you Andy for posting this video and giving us all a look. Will you be building one for the channel? Also, it looks like I found my Christmas present to myself!

If the decals are the usual thickness there would be no need to actually mold the RAM tape on the plastic 😜 No for real, this again looks like another 10 from Tamiya .The canopy alone let my jaw drop. Also cool they added norways chute box. I hope there will be B+C versions as well!

I had a chance to look at what's inside a week ago. I need to admit it's a great kit

Nice, no seam on the canopy, will be adding this kit to the stash...

I think this is the first F-35 kit in 1:48 that comes with decals for the RAM coating the other meng and italeri you have to take hours masking and painting

Will u make a video on building this kit

Thanks for the review. For what I understand, the tires have a slight bulge to simulate weight. Also, the RAM panels most likely will be the best replication of any of the kits made. I have Tamiya’s 1/48 scale F-4B. I have yet to build it. But every time I open the box, I’m amazed by the details of the parts. The clear parts mask sheet for what I understand is NOT precut; the modeler has to use a sharp knife and cut the outlines and then apply them to the clear parts. A similar approach to Tamiya’s 1/48 P-38

Will you do a build Andy for the upcoming 35th scale British Comet tank ? and any news this week on your new upcoming project ?

Thanks for the review

Tamiya should bring it out in 1/32 scale, along with a super hornet and the F22😊

It’s pretty cool. I work for the manufacturer of the F-135 engine.

hello, Andy. is metal shaft for the weapons bay included? if not - where can I get it from? thank you

By the way, it was named Lighning after the P-38 AND the British cold-war Lightning jet. Unfortuantely I already have the A version in that scale, won't be as good. Going to wait for a B or C, rather Tamiya did it though. Got your 1/16 Sherman tank and its glorious, thank you.

Hi Andy! Great review! Putting in a preorder right away! Just curious about one thing though. Is this the kit you had mentioned you would announce in the last Sherman shipping video or is there another 1/16 model coming soon?😜

this kit appears to be the only on in 1/48 that accurately represents the radome and canopy shape. Italeri's 1/32 A model does as well, but none of the other kits in any scale seem to be able to capture that. I also like that it appears that Tamiya also includes one piece WBDs which, if modeling in LO mode will make the kit much easier and smoother.... i think i may get several of these ultimately

Dear lord the decals. DANISH MARKINGS

That molding technology though... Wow. They've really pushed PS injection molding far. Same for Bandai.

Must have 👍

Uf, un par de meses instalando decals. Lindo modelo por cierto.

Thanks for the review Andy. How prominent are those RAM panels, say, in comparison to MENG’s offering? Been up close to the real a/c……they just seem too thick.

Looks like an amazing kit. My favourite scheme would have to be the RAAF. Not just saying that because I'm an aussie. I wish Tamiya would move to colour instruction manuals

This kit is going to be released December 17 in Japan. May be little bit early in U.S.

there is no option for open or closed nozzle?

wow, amazing kit, just wondering do we have any news over the release date?

I was going to wait for an F-22, but…my son saw the build video that showed how the parts fell together like Lego pieces. I think we’re going to have to build one together. Tamiya has raised the bar for buildability. Waiting for Bandai to respond with some equally buildable kits.

Any Idea if Tamiya plans to release a B model? I love the F-35 but theres something about the Marine version when it's in vertical take off mode

Are you gonna make a build video of it

Hi Andy, that is a great looking kit, Tamiya seem to be producing some great subjects, and this is no exception, so two words for you, 'Get Building' woud you be able to get a look through Luke AB? Best regards from Australia.

Just a comment for the algorithm

Great review Andy , just resin and PE nozzle :)

there is the us navy and marine's version of the F 35 b and c version I like to see to build on the show too

Preordered mine yesterday. I don't care much for the F-35 as it's supposed to be replacing my beloved F-16, but I can see how Tamiya wanted to carry on the Lightning theme (so are they gonna do a Ford F-150 next?).

I have heard that this kit will be released at the end of the year here in Japan. I have more kits at hand than I have time to assemble, so I'm wondering if I should buy it.

Maybe someone from Luke frequents your shop that would be able to give a "actual user" assessment of the accuracy of this kit. It all LOOKs very good. My only concern is so many of the current F-35s on the market (in any scale) have the areas for the RAM tape on the fuselage moulded "over" scale. Would love to hear from someone who could assess this kit for that issue.

Looks great, will you build 1 and share the process with us?

I ,have the trumpy 1/32 f-35 c and that's a great kit . Know tamiyas 1/48 looks great as well .

Great review and lovely looking kit Andy! My only concern is all that wiring / tubing in the bays will take ages to paint and hard to get just right all being moulded in like that.

Based on the weapon bay detail, I can only assume that someone at Tamiya took people scratch building all the ribbing, tubes and wires for other models as a personal insult or professional challenge.

Very cool kit! I wish they would’ve included a German decal version but I guess they don’t know yet how it’s gonna look exactly. 🤷‍♂️

Hi Andy, I had an idea for an AHHQ 1:16 kit. How about a BMW/Zundapp motorcycle with sidecar including two figures, a metal barreled MG-34/42 and LOTS of stowage. Maybe even rubber tires?? And configure so it could be for either Afrika Corps or Wehrmacht. What say you?

WOW! Any rumors as to the retail price?

You are bloody funny!!!!!!!!

I wish it was a 1/32 scale

Beautiful...but, no weight on wheels?

Sweeeeet!

Frankly speak My ranks at aero Tamiya > hasegawa(nowadays disappointed) > airfix(nowadays satisfied)> academy italeri wolfpack meng Zoukei-Mura kittyhawk > trumpeter > revel monogram