Never really like the looks of the F-35, but does look mean with everything "strapped" on

I thought the F-35 had a 20mm Vulcan in the wingroot? Learn something new everyday. Looks like it's a good one, especially if like me, you like building armed to the teeth. Thanks for posting Tim.

The F-35A (Air Force or conventional take-off version) has a four-barrel GAU-22/A, 25mm cannon with 182 rounds. The F-35B and F-35C have to use an external gun pod with 220 rounds (info courtesy of Wikipedia). Cheers! -HK sends

I always believed the F-35 had an internal weapons bay in order to keep its radar profile. Sticking this lot on the wings kind of defeats the object I feel.

It does, and when mission profiles call for a low observable "stealthy" configuration, the plane is left "clean" with the weapons loaded internally. However, the internal bays limit the size and type of payload; and since the F-35A/B/C was intended to be a "multi-role" aircraft with a variety of mission profiles, the plane was designed to accept external pylons mounting weapons or fuel to meet those profiles where the need for payload capacity outweighs the need for stealth. I believe the internal cannon was deleted from the F-35B due to the weight and size of the lift fan (not sure about the F-35C). I don't know that the Marines would have too many missions requiring a stealthy configuration so having an external gun pod would probably not adversely affect mission requirements...plus the external pod has more rounds on board (220 vs 180). So..."Beast Mode" is more a mini mud-mover ala the AV-8B. Interestingly, I've read the gun pod, pylons, and even the external weapons have, or will have, some form of low observable treatments applied (maybe more for the Navy F-35C's behalf). Cheers and All the Best! -HK sends PS - I'm not a big fan of the F-35 or the idea of a single aircraft designed as a Jack-of-all-trades (too many compromises), but those "things under the wings" make the F-35B look A LOT meaner!