Decals: VFA-101 Grim Reapers & CF-03 test aircraft
Advantages: currently the only F-35c in 1/72 scale, good details, folding wing options, tow tracter included, photoetch included.
Disadvantages: some surface details are a bit too pronounced. Some instructions are in Chinese+English while others are only in Chinese.

Hello,
This is my quick “what’s-in-the-box” first look of the new Orange Hobby 1/72 F-35C Lightning II kit. 

To date, a few manufacturers have already released the F-35 kit in 1/48 & 1/72 scales. Namely Kittyhawk has released all 3 current versions of the F-35 ( F-35A, F-35B & F-35C) in 1/48 scale. 

In the gentleman’s scale ( 1/72), Hasegawa, Italeri, Tamiya (Italeri reboxed) & Academy have all released the F-35A. Fujimi is the only one so far who has released the F-35B version in 1/72. And now, another player out of the orient called Orange Hobby has released the F-35C, the carrier borne version of this aircraft. 

I received mine from the online shop HobbyEasy out of Hong Kong. The kit comes in a nice top-opening box (Revell, take note! *cough* stupidsideopeningboxes *cough*) with an attractive orange/white motive. 

Click on images below to see larger images

Dimensions Contents of kit Internal weapons bays Landing Gear bays

Since I’m no expert on the F-35 and can’t tell if the dimensions are correct or not, I will just stick to the pictures so that you can see for yourself what’s in the box:

The Kit:
The plastic is in some sort of silverish-grey colour and include the options for the wings to be displayed in the folded position. 

Closer look at the parts

• Internal weapons bays (image above):
• Landing Gear bays (image above):
• Foldable wings + tail parts (image below):
• Wheels (image below):

SURFACE DETAILS
The surface on some parts of the fuselage appears to be a bit pronounced and might put off some folks. Maybe a little light sanding will help to reduce the pronouncedness. 

A note about the canopy: What at first appears to be a strange seam line in the centre of the canopy is in fact, present on the real aircraft. My guess is that it is some form of antenna or detonation cord. 

OPTIONS
The kit comes with an ordnance choice of: 

• AIM-120C, 
• AIM-9X 
• GAU-22/A external gun pod.

A nice touch in this kitting is the inclusion of the tow tractor. This is a welcome addition should you choose to pose this kit in a carrier diorama setting. 

The Tow truck parts are in a single sprue and are a complete model by itself:

HEAVY METAL
The small photoetch includes parts for the aircraft as well as the tow truck. Even includes a small length of copper wire and steel tube (image below):

There are 2 decal options : VFA-101 Grim Reapers and CF-03 Test aircraft. To my eye, the decals are sharply printed but appear to be a bit too shiny. They remind me of the early Monogram decals. And instead of using tracing paper for protecting the decals as per norm, Orange Hobby uses a thin plastic sheet. 

CONCLUSION
All in all, for about US$25, this seems to be a value-for-money kit with good diorama potential thanks to the folding wings & tow tractor options. For those of you who are bothered by the rather pronounced surface details, you might want to wait & see if Hasegawa, Academy, Fujimi or Italeri will release a C-version of the F-35. There is also recent talk of Kittyhawk downsizing their 1/48 kits into 1/72. 

JEGA

Click on images below to see larger images

Foldable wings + tail parts Wheels Upper Fuselage Cockpit tub . Lower Fuselage Upper Rear Fuselage Upper Fuselage Canopy . Canopy seamline Side of Box Tow truck vehicle Tow truck parts also includes some  photo etch parts. . Metal parts Decal sheets