P-38 Lightning group build - Are we there yet???

Nice work ,Mike. Interesting how you don't know what you can do till you try it . Had a similar experience recently scratch building ten scimitar prop blades for a racer. First time I had attempted something like that , but they turned out well.  I also would like to try my hand at resin casting, have yet to dive into those waters. Would be a great resource.

Here are the first pics of my build. I'm also building Academy's Glacier Girl kit but will go with the alternate markings for Oriole of the 339 FS flying out of Henderson in 1943, although I may go with other markings from the south Pacific region . Just love the look of a battle hardened veteran.

Upon reviewing reference photos the office will definitely get some jazzing up with scratched throttles, switches, etc., but I'll still build OOB . Just some enhancement where needed.

I painted the seat cushion and head rest with a mix of mostly flat black , rust, dk earth, varying the mixture to get a subtle variation . I'll often vary the basic colors of assorted boxes and panels for better visual interest. 

The glare shield is a mix of flat black and faded olive. 

 BTW- I noticed the instructions called out for the gear bays and struts to be painted silver. I believe this is incorrect , especially for the earlier Lightnings.  

I recalled in the first FSM How to Paint & Weather special issue of 2007 , a great article on interior colors. Below are excerpts from that article.

I will probably go with a little neutral gray mixed in some aluminum for the gear bays , a little more gray in the mix for the doors , and a little more gray mixed with steel on the struts. I may use MM aircraft gray for a visual difference from the neutral gray undersides. Weathering will bring it all together.

Howard  

 Howard

Here are a couple of pictures of my current P-38 build that stalled out on more than a year and half ago. It's an Academy kit that I am converting to an F-5F. I was messing around with a spare nose and just for fun tried scratching building the F-5F nose and then cast it in resin which was also another first. Learned a few things about that process. I had to do some work after I cast it to clean it up but all in all I was pretty happy with my first try at it.

Still have not decided yet what I want to build. I'll figure it out over Thanksgiving.

Mike

P-38 Guy

For those of you building the Monogram P-38 there is something you may want to note. The wing tips are wrong. They made the top and bottom the same. The bottom should angle up to the tip. Here are a couple of pictures to show what I'm talking about if anyone cares to fix it.

Great to know! But I'm totally invoking gizmology on that one!

For those of you building the Monogram P-38 there is something you may want to note. The wing tips are wrong. They made the top and bottom the same. The bottom should angle up to the tip. Here are a couple of pictures to show what I'm talking about if anyone cares to fix it.

Mike

It is always fun to get goodies in the mail!!!!  Depending on how well shipping goes this week because of the holiday, I hope to get a new front seat for mine (and a few more goodies for other projects).

The P-38M pictures have already been a big help.  I have already made a bit of the detail in back.  Thanks again Mike.  I've started adding detail in one of the wheel wells too.  It is beyond my abilities to reproduce all of the detail, but I think I can do an alright job.  By test fitting, I can tell the fuse/wing halves are going to be a challenge to get together.  They don't line up very well at all.  Almost like it is warped in a twisted way.  Nothing that can't be overcome.  I am really enjoying this build.  I am getting pretty fond of these old monogram kits.

I hope everybody has a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Cheers,

Greg

Well I'm happy with the extras I've just picked up. The Aeromaster sheet seems to have enought decals to complete all three options they give you. A pair of resin seats, which I plan on trying to scratchbuild duplicates of. And the Eduard Zoom set for the cockpit etc. (For the Hasegawa kit, so I'll end up modifying some stuff I'm sure.) Some items from that PE set (belts, instrument panel) may be able to inspire me to make scratch-built versions for the remaining -38s I have waiting for me.

Sweet Vance.. I have a bunch of P-38 stuff... going to troll the stash for the next -38 build... gonna be and earlier model.. H or earlier..

My little box of goodies from Sprue Bros. just arrived last night, and I've got the house to myself tonight!!! Time to investigate the cockpit.

Ahhhh, spent my modeling hours this weekend on Dad's Christmas present, a '68 Charger R/T. (My car build for this year!) I'm waiting on a couple of cockpit items anyway, hate to start my -38 until those show up anyway.

Greg, thanks for the updates, nice work on the mesh insert on the air intake, looks like a good size to my eye.

And Mike, thank you so much for the pics of the radar operator's area, all kinds of wiring etc. for folks to add themselves. Best (and frankly, the only) pics I have seen so far of the interior!

The picture I posted above of the P-38M looks like it might have an N-9 that was fitted to some P-38's.

Here are some pictures showing the set up of the gunsight on early model P-38's.

Mike

Mike (P38 Guy) thanks for the pictures, I'd love to see the earlier one's too.

Greg I found this bit of text, although it doesn't mention the 'M' it should lead you in the right direction

"During its career, the P-38 was equipped with a variety of optical gunsights, including the Army/Navy N-3 in the P-38F through J-5 models. It was a simple reflector sight that projected a 30-mil circle around a center aiming dot or "pipper." From the P-38J-10 onward, a redesigned windscreen required a new sight and mount and that led to the Lynn Instrument Company's L-3".

I think quickboost does an N-3 gunsight but I'm not sure of the others.

Cheers...

Mike (P-38 Guy), thank you very much!  That is just what I was looking for, and it will be a big help to me.  About the gunsight, do you know what type it is?  Was it common to other a/c?  Quickboost makes some WWII gunsight sets, so I was hoping that one of them is the right one for a P-38M.  Thanks again.

Cheers,

Greg

New here and saw this group build and that there was a request for some photo's. I plan on joining this build but will make a formal announcement when I decide what I plan on building.

Here are some cockpit photo's of the P-38M.

I'll post some pictures of how the early gunsight mounted.

Mike

That P-38M is one heck of a weekend build!

Made a little bit of progress, and slid backwards some too.  I somehow lost my front seat ( a spares p.e.), so I just ordered one from my lhs, and went ahead and ordered some wheels for it too.  

Starting to work on wheel well plumbing.

Cheers,

Greg

Well...not as I planned...  I come home from work to find my 2 yr. old daughter once again flying my projects..... I have been working on this P-38 for awhile now and as you can tell in the pic somehow she manage to remove the intake piece and I have searched her room and all her dollies with no luck.  I still have to finish the cockpit and maybe scratch some pieces.

This is Richard Bongs P-38  Marge. 

Recently the cable for the camera dissapeared or I would have build pics...

p38jl

DoogsATX:

p38jl:

thanks Doogs,, but to be fair.. this the 4th Revellogram in my life..but the first M Model...so I kinda new what to look for.. but don't get sucked into the planning.. just got the First place and begin....

 

Yeah, I guess maybe not so much planning as trying to map out what to tackle when.

For example - I'm planning to add mesh behind the oil cooler and intercooler intakes just beneath the props. On the a/c I'm building, that area will be painted red, so I'm tempted to paint it red first, then add the mesh, then mask it off after the build-up and paint the surrounds red.

Or when do I paint and detail the landing gear, since it has to go in before the boom halves are joined.

Stupid things like that.

 

 I cant remember which P-38 are you doing ? the Revell Monogram ?

If its the Revellogram,, there's plenty of open space in the wheel wells to reach the Radiators to add them after painting..

Also, with the prop spinner/mounts, you might try just a tiny dab of glue to hold them on,, paint them, them pop them off add your mesh.. then reglue.. or.. just be steady handed and use a good optivisor and paint them after..

 

PS.. I detail painted my landing gear, after painting the plane over all, and BEFORE adding the landing gear doors.. plenty of room for not hitting the outside..

DoogsATX

p38jl:

thanks Doogs,, but to be fair.. this the 4th Revellogram in my life..but the first M Model...so I kinda new what to look for.. but don't get sucked into the planning.. just got the First place and begin....

 

Yeah, I guess maybe not so much planning as trying to map out what to tackle when.

For example - I'm planning to add mesh behind the oil cooler and intercooler intakes just beneath the props. On the a/c I'm building, that area will be painted red, so I'm tempted to paint it red first, then add the mesh, then mask it off after the build-up and paint the surrounds red.

Or when do I paint and detail the landing gear, since it has to go in before the boom halves are joined.

Stupid things like that.

 I cant remember which P-38 are you doing ? the Revell Monogram ?

If its the Revellogram,, there's plenty of open space in the wheel wells to reach the Radiators to add them after painting..

Also, with the prop spinner/mounts, you might try just a tiny dab of glue to hold them on,, paint them, them pop them off add your mesh.. then reglue.. or.. just be steady handed and use a good optivisor and paint them after..

DoogsATX

p38jl:

thanks Doogs,, but to be fair.. this the 4th Revellogram in my life..but the first M Model...so I kinda new what to look for.. but don't get sucked into the planning.. just got the First place and begin....

 

Yeah, I guess maybe not so much planning as trying to map out what to tackle when.

For example - I'm planning to add mesh behind the oil cooler and intercooler intakes just beneath the props. On the a/c I'm building, that area will be painted red, so I'm tempted to paint it red first, then add the mesh, then mask it off after the build-up and paint the surrounds red.

Or when do I paint and detail the landing gear, since it has to go in before the boom halves are joined.

Stupid things like that.

So I'm not the only one that does this!

p38jl

thanks Doogs,, but to be fair.. this the 4th Revellogram in my life..but the first M Model...so I kinda new what to look for.. but don't get sucked into the planning.. just got the First place and begin....

Yeah, I guess maybe not so much planning as trying to map out what to tackle when.

For example - I'm planning to add mesh behind the oil cooler and intercooler intakes just beneath the props. On the a/c I'm building, that area will be painted red, so I'm tempted to paint it red first, then add the mesh, then mask it off after the build-up and paint the surrounds red.

Or when do I paint and detail the landing gear, since it has to go in before the boom halves are joined.

Stupid things like that.

DoogsATX

P-38 - That's a pretty slick looking nightfighter! I'd be happy to do as good a job in 48 days!

As it is...you built, painted, finished and photographed that thing in about as long as I've spent staring at the parts and trying to map out my approach.

thanks Doogs,, but to be fair.. this the 4th Revellogram in my life..but the first M Model...so I kinda new what to look for.. but don't get sucked into the planning.. just got the First place and begin....

Vance that would be very helpful, I'll PM you my email address later.

P38 I only have some Squadron in action books so I've got a few pictures plus what I've googled but it's a bit difficult to figure it out, I dont think the movable IP cover helps..

Cheers...

P-38 - That's a pretty slick looking nightfighter! I'd be happy to do as good a job in 48 days!

As it is...you built, painted, finished and photographed that thing in about as long as I've spent staring at the parts and trying to map out my approach.

I've got a book at home I can scan, office scanner, so I can get something to you tomorrow. It's kind of a view from the pilot's seat.

Thanks !

have you tried a Detail and scale book yet ?

Nice job P38, I can't believe you built it so fast!

Can anyone point me towards some cockpit pictures of the P38F, specifically how the gunsight is fixed?

Cheers guys...

p38jl

are the pre-fit weights for the P-38 ?..

if so,, u can use wheel wieghts,, the lead is soft enough to cut with wire cutters, then squish them w pliers to form them,, which kit are u doing again ?

Yep - Terry Dean's pre-fit weights. I'd go the wheel weights route, but I'm curious to try these out. Heard great things about them, and they aren't that pricey (like $3).

Well the Aeromaster sheet + the actual kit decals should give me enough options to eventually build all of the P-38s that I have waiting. Then I'll have to find someplace to display them...

VanceCrozier

Lead fishing weights outlawed in the US? Do they not realize that the modeling community uses these things!? I think I last picked up a pouch of those things 2? years ago - they may be off the shelves here as well. I like those little critters, you can fill up any shape with them. BBs would do the same I supose but more $.

I'll take a look at the panel, wonder if I could try thinning it out a little. (Hey, I'm trying all kinds of crazy stuff with this one, why not a first time thinning a panel!?)

Is that the Aeromaster decal sheet that you used?? "Fork Tail Devils"? I've got it on the way as well!

Yes.. it was the Aeromaster, Part 1.. nice decals, laid down good with Solvaset..  They also give you enough decals to do 2 birds completely... 3 birds are on the sheet, but they give you enough of all to do 2..

I also use as wieghts, bank cash shipping bag seals,, I used to have a source... lol..

p-38jl - Man that is one good looking Lighting!  And even more amazing is it was finished in slightly more than 48 hours.

I ordered some lead nose weights from Terry Dean (NightieMission@aol.com) for my P-38.  Got a lot of other nose weights for my other tricycle landing gear birds as well.  I got them the other day.  The ones for the Academy kit fit in the engine booms.  He has a set for the Hasegawa Lightings as well.

About ready to start on my 38, other models are wrapping up.