First off, a note of thanks to Revell for providing this kit to IPMS/USA!

I have had the fortune to build just about every major manufacturer’s” Battle Penguin” since the mid-2015 period (excluding Tamiya’s, I am a 1/48 guy as I get older), and this new release from Revell Germany is a great example of the lower-cost, simpler variant with an excellent final result… it was a surprisingly easy build, and some features just stood out for me.

(For the uninitiated, the official name “Lightning II” in my opinion is a lazy way to come up with a title, (same for “Beast Mode”, yeah, right) and the aforementioned “Battle Penguin” is what most people I know who work on the jet call it… There is another name that is less flattering in “FA” (look it up); I personally think it looks like a horny toad sitting on the ground, but whatever). Enough…

Coming In an end-opening box with an eye-catching painting on the front (along with detail images of an actual assembled model), sales are obvious for this one. The instruction sheet is noteworthy for color, detail, and clarity. No more recycled brown paper with suggestions.

First, the Radar-Absorbing (RAM) panels are not overdone nor are they warranted. Revell has done a convincing job of showing the few panels you can find on the new paint scheme, without making it look like a metal toy. Decals suffice for these panels, and with the darker leaning overall paint scheme prevalent on new deliveries, there are only a few areas which need your attention on the ‘A” model. (“B- and “C-models are another kettle of fish, and we aren’t building one of those here so GOOD!)

Other companies who have delivered (in my opinion) lesser quality kits in this scale have the same breakdown and detail on their offerings, and Revell is no slouch at this. The star of every F-35 Model is the weapons bay, and Revell has convincingly captured this item. It was simple to paint it white after adding the few extra pipes and bits from the kit, and a dark wash is all that is needed to bring the details out. The Augmenter exhaust section is still a pretty classified bit of kit, and therefore I can only speculate on what it looks like “fer real”, but I’ll bet this one is pretty close and is appropriately detailed.

Additionally, there is an entire runner (“Sprue” to some) of weapons. This is a valuable item, as there are almost enough to carry on a B-52 included. Most of them are non-bunker-buster 2000 Lb. JDAM on the majority of the frame. There is sufficient Laser guided GBU-38 ‘s to put on the external pylons for the obligatory “beast mode” that seems to be The favorite display for so many. I have yet to see any F-35A loaded in this manner except in testing, so it’s an option for those who find the airframe too clean in its normal state. Weapons in the bay would be the JDAMS, AARAM, and AIM-9X for the underwing rails on the outer tips.

The ”make me not so stealthy” upper and lower bolt-on weight/radar targets are included if you intent to operate your F-35 in Civil airspace… you are given the option to open the holes for the attaching pegs in this case.

A well-executed pilot figure is included to hide the lack of harness on the simplified ejection MK16 seat in the cockpit, and this one is well done for this scale, and fits nicely. The canopy closes totally over the spartan dark black hole of a cockpit, which offers both left and right control handles, throttle on left, controls, on the right. Decals are provided for the instrument CRT panels, and this suffices for the scale.

Landing gear is a bit scale (delicate for the soft plastic used here) and I had several opportunities to re-cement these in place when my grandson came over and did the “oooooo, a model!” thing before I could stop him. Wups.

Painting was overall with the new battle gray spray from Tamiya (Love that stuff) and basic neutral gray worked Tomy eyes for the areas (including the radome) which required it.
Decals are thin and accurate; The sheet includes US, Norwegian, and Luftwaffe markings, along with the missile and bomb yellow bands.

I had the Lakenheath green markings for the starboard fin fold over on themselves, so be careful is the code for this task. Otherwise, they settled in without solvents and looked great under a dullcoat finish.

Overall, a fun little build that would not break the bank, and I highly recommend it for future fighter pilots out there who need motivation for modeling. This is an impressive effort Revell, and I’m pleased to see how well it came out.

Thanks again to Revell Germany from IPMS USA for the review