MusicOn Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I've been keeping an eye on this one and haven't seen it posted here yet (I did a search - forgive me if this is a repost) HLJ Hasegawa F-35A There was some early info from the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2014 as posted at Primeportal. Looks like one of their "Easy Kits" - downside: cockpit is molded into the upper fuselage, and weapon bays appear to be molded closed. Upside - full intake trunking, and a stand, RAM as decals, and Hasegawa's expected excellence. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Looks like one of their "Easy Kits" - downside: cockpit is molded into the upper fuselage, and weapon bays appear to be molded closed. Upside - full intake trunking, and a stand, RAM as decals, and Hasegawa's expected excellence. Thoughts? Hasegawa probably listened to all the gripes about their "over-engineered" 1/72 kits ( F-14, F-4, etc) and decided to go for a simpler "Easy-kit" approach. The RAM as decals is probably to save time because otherwise, you need to mask & paint those complex shapes. Probably Eduard will step in with paint masks for those who prefer that route. I think for $25+, the kit looks reasonable. And I'm glad they've started including pilot figures in their kits again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inquisitor Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Hasegawa probably listened to all the gripes about their "over-engineered" 1/72 kits ( F-14, F-4, etc) and decided to go for a simpler "Easy-kit" approach. The RAM as decals is probably to save time because otherwise, you need to mask & paint those complex shapes. Probably Eduard will step in with paint masks for those who prefer that route. I think for $25+, the kit looks reasonable. And I'm glad they've started including pilot figures in their kits again. It got a pilot figure, so definitely better than Italeri or Academy kit, even GWHs F-15 :monkeydance:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 What's overengineered about their 1/72 F-4? I quite like those kits... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rustywelder Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 It got a pilot figure, so definitely better than Italeri or Academy kit, even GWHs F-15 :monkeydance:/>/> The academy kit has a very nice pilot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mercury Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Looks like a nice option if you want everything closed - save time fitting and sanding... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dmanton300 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Decal sheet alone gets my vote, that looks excellent! Nose looks a little blunt, but that may be just the assembly of that model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gripen39 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 But why no weapons pylons or stores? It looks great with items hanging on the wings. Probably Hasegawa will upgrade with added sprues as was done on their F-16 kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mizar Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) can't have open bay,when making moulds they noticed some cracks so dediced to leave things as they are and buy more F-15s Edited March 2, 2014 by Mizar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GMK Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 This looks like a good 'first kit'. I like the option of the tinted canopy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 A few years ago, I was really keen to build an F-35. But, the more I look at it, the uglier the plane looks to my eyes. So, at this stage, I doubt I'll be building this to display on my shelf. But... if someone comes up with an outlandish paint scheme for it, I might change my mind.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 A few years ago, I was really keen to build an F-35. But, the more I look at it, the uglier the plane looks to my eyes. So, at this stage, I doubt I'll be building this to display on my shelf. But... if someone comes up with an outlandish paint scheme for it, I might change my mind.... Interesting; F-35 had the reverse effect on me. At first I didn't care for it and now it has grown on me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The more I look at the F-35, the more my initial impression of its aesthetics firms up: from some angles it is beautiful, from other angles it is hideous. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mumbles Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Hasegawa probably listened to all the gripes about their "over-engineered" 1/72 kits ( F-14, F-4, etc) and decided to go for a simpler "Easy-kit" approach. The RAM as decals is probably to save time because otherwise, you need to mask & paint those complex shapes. Probably Eduard will step in with paint masks for those who prefer that route. I think for $25+, the kit looks reasonable. And I'm glad they've started including pilot figures in their kits again. RAM as decals is the only way I'm building any F-35. The faff/gain ratio is just too high otherwise for an already unattractive paint scheme. Good to see that Hasegawa just maybe are responding to negative feedback in a positive way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The more I look at the F-35, the more my initial impression of its aesthetics firms up: from some angles it is beautiful, from other angles it is hideous. I agree with you on that actually. IMHO, F-35 looks pretty good from top or bottom, but from all other angles... not so much! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Interesting; F-35 had the reverse effect on me. At first I didn't care for it and now it has grown on me. Yup, same here. I had no interest in the plane and wasn't even excited when Fujimi released their 1/72 F-35Bs, but then THIS picture changed my mind: http://harmoniaphilosophica.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/air_f-35_left_wingover_rear_view_lg.jpg I saw a high resolution version of above picture somewhere and it somehow turned on a "like" switch in my mind. Actually, I'm looking forward to the F-35C carrier version of it. Dunno why but I think it looks cooler, sexier and more menacing :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The more I look at the F-35, the more my initial impression of its aesthetics firms up: from some angles it is beautiful, from other angles it is hideous. One thing that I find perplexing is the shape of the EOTS. I guess the system needs flat surfaces to function proper. I call it the 'chin chandelier' because it looks like it should be mounted over my dining room table ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I think I figured out what turned me off F-35.... It's the canopy! I don't know why, but it reminded me of that annoying kid in primary school with disproportionately large head who thought he was Mr Know-it-all! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Yup, same here. I had no interest in the plane and wasn't even excited when Fujimi released their 1/72 F-35Bs, but then THIS picture changed my mind: http://harmoniaphilo...ear_view_lg.jpg I saw a high resolution version of above picture somewhere and it somehow turned on a "like" switch in my mind. Actually, I'm looking forward to the F-35C carrier version of it. Dunno why but I think it looks cooler, sexier and more menacing You bring up a good point. I think the ultra-high resolution pics that I've found on the internet helped switch on my 'like' toggle switch too. Also; I agree on the F-35C. But I'm biased to U.S.Navy hardware anyway :D/> . Here's one example (F-35C): Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 What the...?! Is it the angle or the wings on the "C" variant are considerably larger than A or B? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saintly Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 What the...?! Is it the angle or the wings on the "C" variant are considerably larger than A or B? You're right. The F-35C has enlarged wings and control surfaces and beefed-up landing gear for carrier operations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inquisitor Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 What the...?! Is it the angle or the wings on the "C" variant are considerably larger than A or B? Taking that C photo as example. The A/B wingspan should reach around that C's flaperon actuator fairing under the wing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Yes the C has larger wings. A and B wings are dimensionally the same. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
-Neu- Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hasegawa probably listened to all the gripes about their "over-engineered" 1/72 kits ( F-14, F-4, etc) and decided to go for a simpler "Easy-kit" approach. I don't think it has anything to do with that. The second gen F-14 kits were produced at a time when they knew various versions existed: thus they broke it up in order for them to produce all the variants. I'd more likely compare the F-35 to their F-16 and F/A-18E Kits. Their first tooling came out when there were few blocks, and with relatively few overt differences. The result was a kit that was fairly easy to assemble. When Block 40 and 50 came out, they had to create new inserts in order to make them feasible. Then compare the Revell F-16C, and you get a kit, that, while it is not over-engieered, still has more parts to it than the Hasegawa kit. A similar example can be seen with the Hasegawa F/A-18E: it represents an early block aircraft that had relatively few features. They have since had to offer a fret that gives them the later block ECS and instructions on how to rescribe the aircraft to make it accurate. The F-35 reminds me a lot of the F-16. ITs got a fairly easy shape to mould into two shapes, so they'll do that.They can also be reasonably confident that the F-35's shape will remain roughly the same for quite some time; a result of its low observable shaping. Stuff like the Eurofighter, CV-22 or Su-33 seem to be no less complex than other aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zkalos Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Hi Folks ! It's out now ! Hobby Search HLJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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