SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

1/48 Eduard P-38 G Lightning 339th FS "Operation Vengeance" (FINISHED)

5241 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Eduard P-38 G Lightning 339th FS "Operation Vengeance" (FINISHED)
Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, July 7, 2016 1:55 AM

On the morning of April 18th 1943, 18 P-38G Lightnings of the 339th FS out of Henderson Field, lead by Major John Mitchell, took off to intercept Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the mastermind behind Pearl Harbor, who was on a troop moral boosting trip through the Solomons.  Four days earlier American intell broke the Japanese code informing them of Yamamoto's location, route and schedule.  He was notoriously punctual which made the mission feasible.  The intercept location was 425 miles away from Henderson Field and P-38 Lightnings, with oversized drop tanks, were the only plane with the range.   There were 4 attack planes for the bombers and the remaining fighters, to include Mitchell, were to keep the likely escorting A6M Zeros at bay.

After flying over open water just above the waves to avoid being detected, They found Yamamoto's #323 Betty Bomber near Bougainville.  A short time later he was sent down in flames in the jungle.  History would dictate that Rex Barber and Thomas Lanphier each shared in the victory, but who was really responsible has been debated for years.  There were no gun cameras in these P-38 to verify each pilots accounts of the incident.  Initially Lanphier got sole credit for the kill then evidence, to include examining the wreckage, and a surviving witness (in the second bomber that was splashed in the drink) showed that Barber's account was more accurate.  Both men insisted to their dying day that they fired the shots that brought down Yamamoto. Barber was eventually given half credit.   

In my opinion it was a team effort and all of those brave men should get credit omehow, but we all know that's not how it works.  Mitchell said there was a "1000 to 1" chance of it being successful.  

Here is my tribute to those brave men. I recently got my hands on the recent Eduard P-38 Early Lightning Edition which is a reboxing of the old Academy kit.  The draw is that it been "Profipacked" with all of their goodies, to include lots of resin, PE, masks and a sweet decal sheet. I still have no idea why they went to all the trouble to create all this resin and not just mold a new kit of this iconic fighter, perhaps to the standard of the Spitfire MK. IX.      

I have already built Barber's ride for the mission, "Miss Virginia", so now I'm going to have a crack at Lanphier's mount, #122 "Phobe".  I have the Hasegawa "Bougainville" Edition that supplies decals for the attack group which makes this project a reality.  I'm surprised these 339th heroes' planes haven't been addressed by the decal companies yet.  There seems to be plenty of visual documentation out there.....like this..

   

I started with the resin cockpit.  All I can say is WOW, what a beauty!  The seat and radio deck are works of art. Certainly one of the best I've ever seen.  The only issue I see is the wrong steering wheel for a G model.  It was and actual half steering wheel as opposed to the later yoke style.  I horked the wheel out of the Bougainville kit.  Here it is after a dusting of Alclad Grey primer.    

     

Eduard instructs you to remove the canvass instrument panel coaming. I suppose they want you to see their snazzy PE instrument panel. This was often done on the real thing in the field, so I sliced it out with an exacto (sorry no picture, pretty self explanatory...Wink

I painted the cockpit Gunze Interior Green and did my usual cockpit painting.  Their PE is very nice as well, but I found it weird that the seatbelts go through the seat instead of over the bar.  I don't know if I like this or not.  Here it is after a Detailer wash and Testor's Dull Coat.

The fun part will be sandwiching this guy into the airframe.  I hope I sanded it down enough.  We'll find out shortly....   

 

               

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Thursday, July 7, 2016 7:29 AM

Great work on your P-38s but the problem is you are making my Revell P-38 look bad! Keep up the good work.

Max

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, July 7, 2016 7:41 AM

Stunning work as usual dog. Beer Those ex Academy and Hasegawa kits re boxed by Eduard with all the extra resin and pe really kick up the detail dial off the scale.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Thursday, July 7, 2016 7:48 AM

Once again, you've out did yourself lawdog114!  The cockpit is perfection, just awesome.

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, July 7, 2016 7:52 AM

As usual awesome cockpit Joe!!! 

I was reading recently that Admiral Yamamoto may have in some cases been more of a liability than an asset to the IJN as the war proceeded. They pointed out that at Midway instead of just using his bigger fleet to simply close in and smash the USN he went with an insanely complicated plan than partly failed due to it's own complexity. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, July 7, 2016 8:35 AM

Gamera

As usual awesome cockpit Joe!!! 

I was reading recently that Admiral Yamamoto may have in some cases been more of a liability than an asset to the IJN as the war proceeded. They pointed out that at Midway instead of just using his bigger fleet to simply close in and smash the USN he went with an insanely complicated plan than partly failed due to it's own complexity. 

 

That was true throughout the war, even after he was killed.  Just look at the plans for the Phillipenes.

 

I was just through Culver a couple of weeks ago and also stopped at Crooked River Canyon just ot of Madras.  The new highway bridge is named for Barber, and there are plaques at the east end of the old bridge.

The canyon is right at 400 feet wide and 300 feet deep, and after the war he was test flying P-80's and flew one under both the highway and railroad bridges (rail bridge is about 1/4 mile south of the old highway bridge.)

As an aside, the Erickson collection was supposed to repaint their P-38 as Miss Virginia according to rumor, but is still done as  "Tangerine" from the ETO.

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Thursday, July 7, 2016 10:31 AM

I'm going to watch how this build goes. I have resisted building the Revell kit because of all the problems with the kit.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, July 7, 2016 11:18 AM

goldhammer

 

 
Gamera

As usual awesome cockpit Joe!!! 

I was reading recently that Admiral Yamamoto may have in some cases been more of a liability than an asset to the IJN as the war proceeded. They pointed out that at Midway instead of just using his bigger fleet to simply close in and smash the USN he went with an insanely complicated plan than partly failed due to it's own complexity. 

 

 

 

That was true throughout the war, even after he was killed.  Just look at the plans for the Phillipenes.

 

I was just through Culver a couple of weeks ago and also stopped at Crooked River Canyon just ot of Madras.  The new highway bridge is named for Barber, and there are plaques at the east end of the old bridge.

The canyon is right at 400 feet wide and 300 feet deep, and after the war he was test flying P-80's and flew one under both the highway and railroad bridges (rail bridge is about 1/4 mile south of the old highway bridge.)

As an aside, the Erickson collection was supposed to repaint their P-38 as Miss Virginia according to rumor, but is still done as  "Tangerine" from the ETO.

 

 

Very true GH. Interesting about the bridge, I had no idea! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by bvallot on Thursday, July 7, 2016 12:17 PM

=]

On the bench:  

Tamiya F4U-1  Kenneth Walsh

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
  • From: Canyon Lake TX
Posted by wildcat13 on Friday, July 8, 2016 5:11 PM

No one does a better Lightning build on FSM than you bro.

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Greenville, TX.
Posted by Raymond G on Sunday, July 10, 2016 10:01 PM

Knowing the story, I agree with you. Everyone involved with that mission, from the code breakers to mechanics and the pilots ought to get credit for the kill. That is one thing that Civil Air Patrol has gone to doing that I like. If a "find" is issued, everyone responsible for that find, from the folks that work mission base to the ground teams and/or aircrews recieve credit. They have realized it is all a team effort start to finish.

Looks like you're off to a fantastic start on your Lightning! What's your thoughts on Gunze? I have a local dealer that sells it almost exclusively. I've been using Tamiya and Testor's Mastors Acrylics... but it looks like people are getting some real good results with Gunze... any special requirements? Raymond 

On the Bench:

U.S.S. Arizona (Revell)

P-51D Tribute (Revell)

57 Chevy Bel Air

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Sunday, July 10, 2016 10:16 PM

Joe the office looks amazing , up to your usual high quality ! Really great history behind this build as well. Doug Canning ,who also flew on the mission, was a member at a local RC flying club here in Orlando and it was a great honor to get to actually talk to him first hand about this historical event. Looking forward to the next update! cheers Trey

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 4:30 AM

Life has remained hectic lately, I guess you'll have have that.  Anyways, thanks for the kind words all.

Gamera, I never knew that about Yamamoto.  It has always annoyed me that he was educated in the US.   

GH, I can't believe anyone in their right mind would fly under a bridge in an airplane, unless they were chasing a Messerschmitt like Bill Overstreet.  Oh, that was the Effel Tower 

Ray, I use Gunze Aqueous but I find it somewhat translucent and needs a higher paint ratio than Tamiya.  Also it's semi-gloss and takes longer to dry.  They do make the best shade of Olive Drab in my opinion. I thin it with their own thinner, Mr.400 or whatever it's called.  I have no experience with their lacquers.

Trey, thats neat info.  Canning was the one who first spotted Yamamoto's flight.  He apparently had fantastic eyesight.  I believe he is still alive yeah?

Well, I did get some work in on the kit.  Unfortunately I had issues getting the resin pit sandwiched between the wings in the pod.  The instructions were vague on its location so it took alot of fiddling.  I eventually had to break out the Dremel and carve plastic and resin away until I could close it.  Wasn't this pit designed for this kit.............sigh..

Good news.......at least it looks like the canopies will fit

The Academy gear wells are plain without detail.  Eduard provided a nice PE set to dress these up.  

To keep this from being a tail dragger, I added some fishing weights to the nose.  I also added some styrene stock strips as positive locators to aid me in attaching the nose piece.   

I got the booms glued together without issues and I'm ready for the dreaded attachment.

The boom fit was much better than the Hasegawa kit without lower wing/boom root issues.  My biggest gripe is the overall lack of detail compared to the Hasegawa kit.  It has raised "dots" to represent where rivets should be......very Monogram like.  I was going to sand them off and drill them out.....but I would still be there doing it.  

Check out how crappy the landing gear boxes fit inside there?.......wtf?  I have to find a way to fix that...

 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 5:26 AM

as always, you're moving right along and everything is just superb!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
  • From: Canyon Lake TX
Posted by wildcat13 on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 6:35 AM

Your the BEST lightning builder on FSM. Period!!!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 9:47 AM

Looks great!!! 

I know what you mean though, you'd think if the cockpit was made for the kit it'd fit better! I've had to get crazy with the Dremel tool too. And those landing gear bays- ouch! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, July 18, 2016 4:03 AM

Thanks Toshi, Wildcat and Gamera...way too kind.  

I left off where I assembled the frame.  I got everything sanded and scribed to where I thought it was acceptable.  I can say this one was easier to assemble than the Hasegawa kit.  Eduard offers resin supercharger parts and some PE, so I used them.  The slightly darker grey pieces are resin.

On my last Lightning I thought the Tamiya Neutral Grey was a bit dark, so this time I went witn XF-66 Light Grey.  I then weathered it with streaking and a dirty postshade.  The real Phobe looked pretty grungy so I went heavy-handed, hopefully not too much.  

I used blue tac to mark off the demarcation lines in preparation of the Olive Drab.  This stuff is highly recommended for this purpose as it leaves a nice feathered edge.  

Most Quadalcanal Lightnings that I've seen in pictures have lighter colored stripes on the nose, engines and especially on the panel lines.  I've never been able to find a definitive answer to why.  I'm guessing shipping tape markings of some sort coupled with sun fading.  Anyways, I decided to replicate this.  I sprayed the nose and engines XF-57 Buff mixed with XF-49 Khaki thusly...

I then cut strips of Tamiya tape and placed them where I wanted the markings to be.  I didnt want to get too carried away.  

Then I laid down the Gunze Olive Drab.  In my opinion the best paint for this color.  

I lightened the drab with some buff and added some streaks.  I also lightened the control surfaces.

I like the way it turned out.  

  

I'll post shade it soon then gloss it for decals....stay tuned.

      

   

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 5:39 AM
Wow Joe another absolute beauty. I always wondered if the Eduard reboxing of kits was worth the extra cost

 

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Posted by mustang1989 on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 6:18 AM

Good lookin' build so far good buddy!

                   

 Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com) 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 6:40 AM

Looking very good dog. The paint looks extra smooth. Is Gunze lacquer? If so where did you get them?

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, July 22, 2016 12:55 AM
Thanks guys for the kind words...PJ, I use their Aqueous line still thinned with their brand thinner. I bought them off ebay. I primarily use their RLM colors and Olive Drab, Everything else I use Tamiya. I have no experience with their lacquers yet...

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Friday, July 22, 2016 9:11 AM

Wow Joe, such an incredible build you have here. I love all the PE touches, but the paint ideas are just nothing short of amazing. LOVE IT !!!

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, July 22, 2016 10:53 AM

Very, very sharp work! 

I've tried the streaking but can't get it to look anywhere as good as yours. Embarrassed

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 9:58 PM

Thanks for the kind words.  Gamera, it takes practice.  The tough part is not overdoing it.  I go for barely noticeable.

I finished this guy last night.  Now that I've built the Hasegawa and Eduard (Academy) kits back-to-back, I can say they are both challenging and even lacking, just in different ways.  Here's the stuff I felt was worth mentioning: 

*I'll give the Hasegawa kit the nod because the surface detail is much better.  I suppose this is why Eduard threw a ton of PE and resin at the Academy kit to improve things in overall appearance. I don't particularly like the raised rivets on the Academy kit.  

*Hasegawa's kit is tricky with boom alignment and it has underside wing root issues.  On the Academy kit, the boom to wing alignment was fairly painless with no wing root to deal with due to the kit design.  It's just a matter of gluing the upper piece to the lower piece.  Both gun bay nose assemblies were a lousy fit with lots of sanding and scribing.    

*Hasegawa's glass is thinner and more detailed but the Academy glass, particularly the windscreen, fit better, at least to me. I've never liked the fit of Hasegawa's windscreen. 

*If it was not for the PE fret offered by Eduard, the landing gear bays on the Academy kit would have no detail.

So on conclusion, factoring everything in, I'd still have to go with the Hasegawa kit with a few add on goodies.  Eduard did do a nice job updating the Academy basic kit and is no slouch either.  I doubt I would bother with the basic Academy kit but your mileage may vary.  I do hope to try out the Hobby Boss Lightning some day.   

My personal additions were Quickboost gun barrels and brake lines. I didn't particularly like the flat table-like stance, as most parked P-38s I've seen tilted slightly backwards. Since I had PE scissor links, I decided to fix this by replacing the front oleo strut with a longer piece and then using the said supplied PE scissor. I like the look but it did not go without consquence.  I discovered it was now a tail sitter as I failed to compensate for the weight shift.....Angry.  Unfortunately this one will need to be fixed to a base by the front wheel.  We live an we learn.  I will however be doing this on all future P-38 builds.            

Here is my rendition of "Phobe", #122, flown by Thomas Lanphier Jr. on the Yamamoto Mission.  In all, Lanphier was credited with 9 kills, 8 damaged, and a Destroyer sunk.   

As much as I love this subject, I'm officially Lightning'ed out.  Time for something easy.  How about a Tamiya Wildcat?

Thanks for following.  Comments or criticizms are always welcome.....

 

  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 10:19 PM

DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS.

I love the way she sits, Lawdog. Its unfortunate that you didn't consider the weight shift, but I'm sure most of us would've also missed that.

Live and learn. Indeed.  :)

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 10:27 PM
Thanks Mike. Indeed, a touch of blue-tac under the front wheel does wonders....

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 11:25 PM

Fantastic Joe, simply STUNNING !!  WOW !!!!  Bow Down

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 12:05 AM

I'm bookmarking this build for whenever I get around to my Eduard Pacific Lightnings kit. I must second Mike B's compliment - gorgeous work!

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 1:07 AM

Brandon, Mike...thanks. I'm glad it will be helpful.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Posted by mustang1989 on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 5:28 AM

Your builds are always top of the line stuff Joe and this one isn't any different at all. Great work!! What really draws my attention to your builds is the lightning quick way you get them done and still pull off the quality work. Awesome show buddy! Yes

                   

 Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com) 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.