1/48 Tamiya P-38 H Lightning 475th FG “McGuire” (Finished)

Outragiously delicious Joe!

Question - Do you use gloves for installing the canopy, or others parts you chose to leave for near the end of the build? I ask because I never see smudges or any other imperfections that might be due to dirty fingers on your builds and also because I'm not the neatest model builder around. Just curious.

This will be my primary reference for the build when I get to it.

lawdog114

 

 

JOE RIX

Your P-38 is exceptional. You've done a remarkable job in rendering the weathering.

I'm curious Joe, is it feasible to paint the guns and nose seperately then mount everything afterwards? 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Joe. You can do that if you so choose. I guess I never thought of that.

 

Aggieman

Top notch work as always.  Thanks for sharing.

I just ordered this one, should be here in time for Christmas.  Your paint work is jaw dropping awesome.  AK Real Colors, I take it those are worth the cost?  I'm probably going to want to build a couple of these (but I have an old Monogram, a Monogram Pro-Modeler, and an Academy already built up and displayed, and these birds take up a lot of space for a 1/48th build - may have to find a place to farm out a couple of these older builds).

 

Thanks Aggie. AK Real Colors are wonderful. Worth every penny. 

RadMax8

Thanks for your honest thoughts on this kit. Seems like the only flaws are the gun design, and the kit wheels.

Can you touch on your technique for painting the guns? It looks like the paint is so thin, and the color looks just right to me.

I’ve got two of the early-model P-38’s from Hasegawa and one late model... at the rate I build I should sell them all and buy one Tamiya. But, deep down I’m a hoarder who likes a challenge!

 

My days with those other kits are over....lol. 

JOE RIX

Your P-38 is exceptional. You've done a remarkable job in rendering the weathering.

I'm curious Joe, is it feasible to paint the guns and nose seperately then mount everything afterwards? 

 

Thanks Joe. You can do that if you so choose. I guess I never thought of that.

tempestjohnny

Joe I have no words.

 

Thanks Johnny 

jeaton01

Gold plated, Joe!

 

Thanks Jeaton

goldhammer

Beautiful work...  Hope mine turns out half as nice, Id be happy at 1/3.

 

Side note:  According to my poking around last night, "Miss Virginia" arrived in PTO in Feb. '43, and was flown by another pilot and collected a couple of kills (supposedly with that name on her).  Was sent to Guadalcanal a little later.  Within a week or 10 days of the Yamamoto flight another pilot was in her and made a wheels up landing.  She was written off and scavenged for parts. So she was only around for about 3 months. No record of what happened to the hulk.

Just have to wonder if that was Barber's only flight in it.

 

Thanks Gold. It's my understanding this was the only time he flew Virginia. I could be wrong though. 

Hoss WA

Absolutely superb!!  Outstanding finish and agree that the Master gun barrels are very convincing. Thanks for sharing your progress photos and the build tips. Another excellent template for the rest of us! This P-38 is on my list for sure.  

 

Thanks Hoss

M. Brindos

WOW! 

That is a gorgeous model! Love those panel lines!!

 

Thanks Mike

fotofrank

Lawdog, great build. The model looks like you could touch it and feel the metal under the paint. Well done. I'd like to see a comperable P-38 in 1/72 scale sometime soon.

 

Thanks Frank

Tojo72

I would really like to do Richard Bong's Marge,hopefully we will get that version.

 

Me too!

patrick206

Joe -

Perfect kit, great build, a treat to see, thank you for the photos and details.

Since you plan on more, I hope you'll turn out a NMF at some point. Maybe Tamiya will release some additional versions, if they see such a good customer reception for this first one.

Patrick

 

Thanks Patrick. I hope a J soon. 

Mopar Madness

Beautiful LD!!  I'd love to get one of these and convert it to an RAF Mk.I evaluation plane. Yours is superb as always. 

 

Thanks Mopar. Supercharger delete......ouch!

the Baron

That's a beautiful finish, Lawdog!  Thanks for sharing your progress pics, too.  I can't wait till mine gets here.

A vendor at the Long Island show a couple weeks ago had one on his table, for sixty bucks, and I almost bought it.  But I told myself, "No-you have one on order, finish what is on your plate first." I should have, though.

Still not going to chuck my Monogram kits, or pass on building the other makers' kits, though.  I like to see how different companies tackle the same subject.

I'm following another build of this kit online, and the guy building it noted that when he assembled the tail booms, the vertical stabilizers were out of alignment.  He was able to align them, with a little pressure, attaching the horizontal stabilizer, and attaching the rudders.  Did you notice that at all?  I suspect it's not too unusual for a little warpage, on any sprue of any given kit.

 

Thanks Baron. The design of this kit makes misalignment almost impossible. Mine was almost a click fit. I guess anything is possible. The assembly is painless. 

Gamera

As usual superb, just friggin' superb!!! 

And as Mustang stated it sounds like you really enjoyed the kit as well. 

 

Thanks Gamera. Modeling bliss. 

mustang1989

Can't go wrong with that turn out Joe. I'd be really happy with that result. Sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed yourself with this kit too which is a big change from all the 1/48 scale kits that I've seen everybody else build.

 

Thanks Joe. Indeed I did my friend. 

BrandonK

This kit is definately on the want list. Waiting to see what Santa leaves me. I'll force myself through the Hase kit I have first so I have full appreciation for the Tamyia kit. Well done again, Joe. Super nice AC. I'll be changing over paints soon too.

BK

 

Thanks Brandon. You won't be disappointed. 

tomwatkins45

Beautiful, as is all of your work. I think mine is going to have to be my next project.

Tom

 

 Thanks Tom. 

Wingman_kz

Very nice! The gun barrels are a great addition and the Real Colors look great. They spray beautifully don't they. This kit is a must have. Tony

 

Thanks Tony. Indeed it is. 

Top notch work as always.  Thanks for sharing.

I just ordered this one, should be here in time for Christmas.  Your paint work is jaw dropping awesome.  AK Real Colors, I take it those are worth the cost?  I'm probably going to want to build a couple of these (but I have an old Monogram, a Monogram Pro-Modeler, and an Academy already built up and displayed, and these birds take up a lot of space for a 1/48th build - may have to find a place to farm out a couple of these older builds).

Thanks for your honest thoughts on this kit. Seems like the only flaws are the gun design, and the kit wheels.

Can you touch on your technique for painting the guns? It looks like the paint is so thin, and the color looks just right to me.

I’ve got two of the early-model P-38’s from Hasegawa and one late model... at the rate I build I should sell them all and buy one Tamiya. But, deep down I’m a hoarder who likes a challenge!

Your P-38 is exceptional. You've done a remarkable job in rendering the weathering.

I'm curious Joe, is it feasible to paint the guns and nose seperately then mount everything afterwards? 

fotofrank

I'd like to see a comperable P-38 in 1/72 scale sometime soon.

 

Gold plated, Joe!

Beautiful work...  Hope mine turns out half as nice, Id be happy at 1/3.

Side note:  According to my poking around last night, "Miss Virginia" arrived in PTO in Feb. '43, and was flown by another pilot and collected a couple of kills (supposedly with that name on her).  Was sent to Guadalcanal a little later.  Within a week or 10 days of the Yamamoto flight another pilot was in her and made a wheels up landing.  She was written off and scavenged for parts. So she was only around for about 3 months. No record of what happened to the hulk.

Just have to wonder if that was Barber's only flight in it.

Absolutely superb!!  Outstanding finish and agree that the Master gun barrels are very convincing. Thanks for sharing your progress photos and the build tips. Another excellent template for the rest of us! This P-38 is on my list for sure.  

WOW! 

That is a gorgeous model! Love those panel lines!!

Lawdog, great build. The model looks like you could touch it and feel the metal under the paint. Well done. I'd like to see a comperable P-38 in 1/72 scale sometime soon.