1:48 Academy P-38J Lightning (Completed)

It seems I've read about this issue on other build logs (Britmodeller). Eduard even acknowledged it in one of their newsletters, and said they corrected the resin piece in later releases. But that doesn't help you. Sorry, I have no ideas atm...

Well, all good things must come to an end right??  I'm finding a fit problem with the dash/IP onto the cockpit tub.  The width seems to be part of the problem.  I think with the tub in place it's slightly spread the sides of the fuselage pod on the kit that receives it.  So now the dash wont grab both sides.  And of course this throws the nose off.  With the dash not sitting right, the nose has a gap about 2-3mm wide down the length of the this whole piece.  =[

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

Any suggestions. So far my instinct is to just mash it down the rest of the way and glue it with something hard!  ...Plasticard the gap and move on.   But then again, I don't want to be rash now!! 

Having just seen what you can do to a blue Corsair I look forward to seeing the NMF treatment here.

Here's a few photos of the cockpit that's mostly completed.  I've read that early variants sometimes had an OD green seat as these parts came from all over and the distributors often had delays in delivering, but by the time the J's rolled out everything was kept in the typical Interior Green.  This time I tried a play out of Lawdog's handbook and painted everything Flat Black, then came back with my interior green.  So far I like it!!

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

I returned to my latest way of painting the various equipment inside by mixing my Flat Black with a little Medium Blue.  I paint it thinned out onto everything...radio equipment, etc. and used a Light Grey to dry brush the corners of things.  A little Flat Aluminum dry brush over certain items that get stepped on and worn...and some dabs of red and white to display the placards that go over this and that.

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

I didn't feel so safe about the way Aires decided to construct this piece so i reinforced it with some brass rod.  I recommend it.  =]

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

Here's a test fit:

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

image by brittvallot, on Flickr

In order to fit the cockpit, I had to file down the two round female tabs that receive the dash/IP.  I filed them smaller from underneath and closer in to fit the cockpit tub. I also just went ahead and cut one side off for now to allow it to squeeze in.  I'll put it back on later.

Also, my head rest was painted the same as my wildcat and mustang.  It's a mix of Tamiya's Red, Flat Red Brown and some Flat Black.  None of this is mixed evenly.  It's thinned and painted quite spontaneously.  Nothing too fixed and planned.

Nice job.

Chanter: let me know if you have any luck. =]

Joe: Thanks! I've actually read thru your build that you did on Robin Olds quite thoroughly. I've been looking forward to doing his P-38 as well. Maybe even his Phantom. And maybe his Mustang. The guy was a legend in his own day. =D any tips you might have along the way are more than welcome of course. I'll be on the road for work till Wednesday but when I come back I hope to have the cockpit finished and secured to the fuselage pod. I'll have some picks up then.

Nice work so far Bvallot.  P-38's can be tough just by shear design of the plane itself.  I built two Hasegawa examples so far and they were certainly no walk in the park  I'll be following your progress......and congratulations on your upcoming nuptials....

Joe

BVallot,

That's funny, I just started the same kit, and am looking for the same book, as I have the Superscale decals to do St Louis Blues.

Allen

That part I already knew.  The ONLY place I could find that "had" it apparently didn't.  =[   The part 2 of the P-38 Lightnings does not include Richard Bong's "Down Beat."  If I can't find it some how I might just hand paint the nose art and say screw the decals.

We'll see...

That book is out of print. Kagero's lightnings part II might have it? Topcolors #33.

Okay. Snag!!  I just found out that the book I was getting to reference happened not to be in stock.  It's the Kagero Mini Top Colors 10: P-38 Lightnings at War.  If anybody out there in the modeling world knows where to find it or has a copy they'd be willing to part with, then I'd be happy to compensate you for your trouble.

I appreciate any help I can get.  =]

Ah yes! I have been drooling over this kit for a while now. Will be subscribed to your thread .

Theuns