Hobby Master Air Power Series 1/72 Scale

HA4624B F-35B Lightning II, RAF No.617 (Dambusters) Sqn, Beast Mode - (beast mode, 2 x meteor missiles inside weapon bay)

Limited Edition

No. 617 Squadron, the RAF's famed "Dambusters," was reformed in 2018 as the UK's first frontline F-35B Lightning II squadron, based at RAF Marham. Operating the fifth-generation stealth fighter with short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability, the squadron has demonstrated advanced multirole operations. Its aircraft participated in Carrier Strike Group 21 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, deploying to the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific. 617 Squadron continues to showcase interoperability and rapid global deployment, underscoring the UK's carrier strike and air combat capabilities. The unit remains a central pillar of the RAF's modern, flexible, and stealth-enabled force.

The F-35 is designed to be stealthy, concealing up to 5,700 pounds of ordnance within its internal weapons bays. When stealth isn't the priority however, it can be configured in "Beast Mode", carrying a total of 22,000 pounds both internally and externally via conventional wing pylons.