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F-35 radome/canopy/intake color question


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Hi, first post here, and a question regarding the 1/72 F-35A I'm currently working on.

 

I've already painted it FS36170 using MRP lacquer, but am now trying to figure out what to do next.  I know the RAM tape is all FS36170 now, but what about the radome, canopy frame, intake edges, and leading/trailing edges of the wings and tail?  These used to be Medium Gray like the RAM tape.  Some recent photos make it look like everything is one color now.  But others (recent enough that the RAM tape is the same as the fuselage) still seem to have a lighter canopy frame and radome.  And then others make it seem like they are almost darker than the fuselage.

 

So is there any consensus on what to do with this thing?  It's just sitting on my bench for now while I work on an F-22 (where I'm also trying to figure out what to do for the darker camo color)

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3 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

I know nothing about this kit or which kit your building but, you should have a paint guide somewhere in your box.

Steve

 

See, the problem is all the current F-35 kits are designed for the old scheme with the light RAM tape.  This Academy kit comes with a full set of decals for the tape.  But that scheme is outdated.  Nobody seems to include paint guides for a modern scheme, which has only rolled out in the last few years.

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I have a buddy of mine, who works in the Lockheed Martin model shop. He says the current base color is FS 36170 and, as far as the RAM panels go, you should lighten them slightly for contrast. I realize this chart says F-35B but, I'd bet all three variants get the same basic color treatments. Maybe do a little painting experiment, on a test subject, and try some FS 36375 Light Ghost Gray for the RAM panels.

Steve

 

Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Color Profile and Paint Guide

Edited by A-10 LOADER
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2 hours ago, jbryan911 said:

I mixed MRP 36170 50/50 with white to get the lighter colors. The finish changes color depending on the lighting, so it's hard to pin down. I went with "that looks about right..."

 

 

That looks really nice.  Don't have white lacquer to mix with the 36170 (just started using lacquers on an F-15c, and now the F-35c and F-22a), but think I'll try mixing some 36251 Aggressor Gray with a bit of 36170.  Still have a bunch of Mission Models white that I've been using for landing gear and such, so haven't' switched over to lacquers yet for that stuff.

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