1:72 F-35A/B/C Lightning II pilot sitting in a late modification ejection seat (3D Printed)

F-35 pilot in an ejection seat, 1:72 scale

This is a figure, not a model of the aircraft. The figure is sculpted in a seated position, so that it sits down into the cockpit, and it is meant for the late-modification ejection seat. That detail matters: seats are modified during service and both their shape and the arrangement of the straps change, so a figure shaped for an earlier version would not sit correctly in the cockpit. The set can be used with all three basic versions of the aircraft. In this small scale three-dimensional printing manages the folds of the suit, the straps of the harness and the intricate helmet with its visor.

The real subject

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat fifth-generation combat aircraft with reduced detectability. It is built in three basic versions that differ in the way they take off and land: for ordinary runways, for short takeoff and vertical landing, and for operations from aircraft carriers. The cockpit and the seat are the same in all of them.

Usage tips

• Wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent, as residue stays on the surface after printing.
• Cut the supports off as close to the part as possible and sand the marks away; they have nothing to do with casting.
• Try the fit in the cockpit dry, as the shape of the tub differs between kits.
• Paint the figure before you seat it, because afterwards a brush will not reach into the cockpit.
• Finish the visor of the helmet with a gloss coat so that it reflects the light.

Who it is for

The figure is for modelers of modern combat aircraft who want an occupied cockpit. An empty cockpit looks like a display model; a seated pilot turns it into a machine ready for action.

It is not a model of the aircraft. Paints, glue and the kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.