1/72 P-38 Lightning

Only a few kits out there. One of the recent FSM issues profiled the P-38 ane the available kits, past and present. Hasegawa, Dragon, Arifix, Revell, Frog: all of them are out there somewhere. Hasegawa is probably your best bet for now. - Ed

The two 1/72 scale P-38 models I have built were by Hasegawa and Dragon. Neither kit is perfect but I preferred the Dragon release for its better exterior detail. Both kits require a lot of TLC to get a good result. Wish Tamiya would do a 1/72 P-38 or Hasegawa re-tool to current standards.

I have drawings/plans let me know if you want them.

Academy has announced P-38J kit (see IPMS Germany site : www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/ Nuernberg2003/Nuernberg_2003.html) . I think it's worth waiting.

I have the airfix kit I have not built it yet but for a inexpensive kit it is hard to beat . But a hasegawa or a dragon kit would have the best fit and detail.

I'm building Dragons P-38M (night Fighter variant)!

It has engraved detail and all the seam lines fall on panel lines....good detail and it will be a good kit!

Drawbacks

The canopy is a bit thick, but coat in Future and it gives the illusion of thin!
This kit needs a lot of filler and TLC...I haven't had to fill like this in a long time. EVen though the seams are on panel lines the fit is just downright nasty
FILL FILL FILL (some gaps are up to 1 mm (I'm canadian))

Dry fit a lot and make sure the booms and tailpiece are aligned....and don't forget weight in the nose!

Good luck

James

Thank you all for the in put. James, thanks for the reminder about nose weight. I remember how my first aircraft that had a nose wheel sat up for me all the time.