With the recent demise of some of our favorite scale modeling publications, the stars have aligned for Andy Evans and David Francis and their mag designers Jonathan Phillips and Andy Folds. As a result, they were able to team up and put together Phoenix Scale Publications to the benefit of those of us in the scale modeling hobby. Their excellent Phoenix Scale Modelling and Phoenix Aviation Modelling magazines became available earlier this year.

Aviation modelers will also benefit from their outstanding reference book series, which includes their Airmark series as well as their Red Series, White Series and Blue Series of aircraft reference books.

The subject of this review is the Real to Replica Blue Series #3 – The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. This soft cover 8.25” X 11.5” booklet contains 96 pages of background and development, color reference photos accompanied by reference commentary for each picture, along with a color profile artwork section.

The Astro Vertical Frameless Display Cases are versatile display cases which come in a range of sizes and which are suitable for many model display applications.

The cases are constructed of a seamless molded acrylic cover minimally framed in Cherry hardwood. The design features built-in handles, a cover which is easily removed with no special tools, the ability to be outfitted with lighting (provided as an accessory) as well as the ability to be hung on a wall or displayed on a shelf or mantle.

The Cherry hardwood grain is beautiful, and the care to the overall finish—the smoothed edges, the gentle curves—gives it an elegant appearance which only compliments any fine model in your collection.

Initial Construction

Now that I had the kit in hand, I had to once and for all decide into what time frame to build it. Most of the parts you need to build the ship at any point in her career are in the box, but much of the build will be determined by what point in time you choose to place the ship. I finally decided to depict Yamato during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October, 1944. I had good references that showed her differences at various points in her service history, with illustrations highlighting in particular her deck and superstructure arrangement of small and medium caliber weapons.