An amazing finish as always.  You never cease to surprise me with your work.

Your friend, Toshi

Stellar work as usual, Joe! I love how it's always perfectly weathered and never feels overdone.

You encouraged me to get back on the bench and pickup my own Lightning where I left it but damn this kit is a crapfest all the way ; everytime I feel like I've done enough puttying/sanding on the booms, there is a joint that still doesn't look good and I have to do it again...  I think I'll settle for "good enough" but everytime it just looks to flawed... Plus, I made some mistakes by myself and the carpet monster claimed another victim with on of the air intake panels... If by some miracle I finish it one bright day, I'll make sure nobody checks the underside !

Back to following your Airfix Mustang now ;-)

I always think I can just used to the high quality of your work Joe but you just keep raising the bar! Beautiful!!!  I love your P-38 and want to elope with her... 

Interested in how the Hobbyboss kit works out. I've only built the Monogram and Hasegawa P-38s- I have an Academy in the stash but have heard they're not any better. 

Beautiful!

Very nice.  I like the mix of NM shades ans subtle weathering.  Almost built that kit, but sold iy on ebay a year or so ago...glad I did!

Anyhow, thats a beauty.

Another Lawdog masterpiece  Some people really can turn a sows ear into a silk purse

You mask your difficulties very well. I think the difference between you and I is an abundance of patience and focus. I’ll throw in the towel and say “good enough” while you go the extra mile. 

That‘s a pretty brutal review of the kit, but if the shoe fits...

Build looks phenomenal. Always been one of my personal favorites, and this one is pure eye candy. Nice job!

Awsome work, no one can put a cockpit togeather like you can. Thats one tuff kit but you made it look easy.

Another ridiculously high bar finished reference work.

Maybe I should dip into my savings and buy and work on about ten or twenty P-38 kits just to see if I could get one or two to look half as good as this one.

Seriously fabulous work here Joe.

I always thought the design of the P-38 was a work of art and so is this, your beautiful work. I have a 1/32 scale Trumpeter in the stash but I am afraid to build it because  it surely won't measure up to this one by a long shot.

You should be very proud of what you have created with this build.

Another exceptional build, well done.

If only I could track another one down for my stash.

Damian

Thanks guys...

I finally got this one done.  To recap it's Jack Ilfrey's Happy Jack's Go Buggy from the 20th FG.  Ilfrey shot down 7.5, all in the P-38.  He would be downed by flak in this plane on June 12th 1944 then evade capture by pretending to be a deaf mute French farmer. 

Reference the kit...ouch.  These Hasegawa P-38 are brutal fit wise and require lots of patience.  The clamshell center pod and booms are very troublesome. This kit is like the Monogram P-38, but with recessed panel lines.  On this one I added a True Details pit and Ultracast tires.  I drilled out the guns and added brake lines. It was my first NMF on a Lightning and I'm fairly happy with it.  I'm probably going to try out the new Hobby Boss Lightning on my next one though. 

Thanks for looking..

That P38 is looking really great. Nicely done.

-J

This just showed up on my Tumblr dashboard:

https://p38lightning.tumblr.com/image/167746534505

Should help to see the variations in the varying shades of bare metal.

Hmmm, can't seem to get the picture to show up. I guess select the link and right click it to open the picture.

Despite the difficulties she's an absolute stunner Joe!  I'm starting to think that you can take any lump of plastic and turn it into art.  Thanks for sharing your exceptional quality builds

Thanks guys, in for a quick update. I got it decaled last night.  I used a Aeromaster sheet for the decals.  Normally I'd paint the insignias but the P-38 had small ones so decals were suffice.  I had no issues.  Once dry, I dusted them with a coat of clear to seal them for the upcoming wash.  I'm thinking this turkey should be done soon.

Partial invasion stripes would look wicked on this bird. Just my

Amazing work as always.

You aced it, game, set and MATCH!

.......and I just found out this plane had full invasion stripes at one time, then just on the lowers surfaces.  I may add the lowers to simulate it post D-Day just before Ilfrey was downed by flak on June 12th.

Decisions........Decisions 

1943Mike

How long did it take you to sand in preparation for the Alcad? I'm thinking that process might take a while. Just curious.  

Thanks guys, 

Mike, I just pass a 2000 grit sheet across it where the surface feels rough then wipe it down.  It doesnt take long at all.  

kensar

Another question - Would the panels oxidize to different colors in a symmetrical pattern or randomly?

Thanks Kensar,

Reference the panels, I'm not really sure.  I do it because I believe no two sheets of metal would look the same, and I like the look.  This is my first NMF Lightning so who knows if its accurate.  I'm hoping it tones down a bit on the final product.  

Toshi

When you tape the panels off, does the tape at the time of removal pull off any of the Alclad?  

And if not, what type of tape do you use.  

What’s the PSI for shooting the exhaust stains, somewhere between 10-15 PSI?  

Also what type of AB do you use?  

Thanks all. 

Toshi, I use Tamiya tape for the precise taping and regular cheap tape for filler masking. 

PSI...I get in close at about 15 psi, assuming my gauge is correct (It's old and foggy).

I recently switch to the Iwata Revolution CR I believe.  It was given to me to try out and I like it.  I think it's their middle of the road brush,  

Sterling work as usual Joe. 

How long did it take you to sand in preparation for the Alcad? I'm thinking that process might take a while. Just curious.

I thought I was used to the awesome quality of work from you but that NM  knocks me out!