Even with the AV-8B entries, you have to stay Mil Power for STOVL. But after the nozzles are full aft, you can fly afterburner as a normal aircraft would.
Basically the forward fan is not as powerful as the rear nozzle and needs better RCS Up control. It might be possible to do the math and get the proportions the same as for the AV-8B.
Incidentally, I believe the pod underneath the fuselage is the gun pod. If you use the following entries in the data file, it certainly becomes the gun pod..
This works for both F-35B and F-35C. The F-35A has a gun port on the port shoulder. I probably tweaked that too, but can't remember.
[InternalGun]
SystemType=FIXED_GUN
GunPortAnimationID=4
GunPortAnimationTime=0.2
GunTypeName=20MM_M61A1
InputName=FIRE_PRIMARY_GUN
MuzzlePosition=0.0,-0.1,-1.3
LightPosition=0.0,-0.1,-1.3
AimAngles=0.0,-1.875,0.0
MaxAmmo=182
EjectShells=FALSE
MinExtentPosition=
MaxExtentPosition=