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

tempestjohnny

Joe I have no words.

 

Thanks Johnny 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

 

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.

Man Joe, just as soon as I pop back on what's the first thing I see?? So happy to find you tackling this already. My kit is actually in the mail. I couldn't wait either and got myself an early Xmas present with a gift card I got from work. I'll have to take my time and come back to this thread later this week. 

Very cool Joe.

Any other tricks or takeaways? something you would do different next.time..??

Beautiful looking build Joe and your kit review makes me want to pick one up...especially since the Revellogram version has been sitting partially built on my bench for a couple of years.

Joe another outstanding build! You certainly did it justice as always . Like I do'nt have enough kits in the stash You go and motivate me to order one !

JOE RIX

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

That's encouraging. I've got the Eduard Brassin gun set for this kit on the way. They appear to mount in the same way as the kit guns.

 

 

Yeah Joe, it shouldn't be an issue.  I just prefer adding guns at end.  Easier to paint then install.   

1943Mike

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.

 

Thanks Mike.  No gloves, I'm just very careful.  I sometimes use Novus cleaner on a q-tip if they get dusty.  Truthfully I don't like polished glass because I think it's unrealistic.  I don't believe these were perfect on the real thing, especially plexiglass. 

bvallot

Man Joe, just as soon as I pop back on what's the first thing I see?? So happy to find you tackling this already. My kit is actually in the mail. I couldn't wait either and got myself an early Xmas present with a gift card I got from work. I'll have to take my time and come back to this thread later this week. 

Very cool Joe.

Any other tricks or takeaways? something you would do different next.time..??

 

Thanks Britt.  hmmmm, other than what I mentioned, I doubt I'd do anthing different.  It's a great kit and was a pleasure to build.  If I didn't have other projects that I had to get done, I'd build another right now.  

Reasoned

Beautiful looking build Joe and your kit review makes me want to pick one up...especially since the Revellogram version has been sitting partially built on my bench for a couple of years.

 

Thanks Reasoned.  I hear you, that Monogram P-38 was one of my first kits when I returned to the hobby and I almost quit again because of it.  Thankfully my second was the Tamiya P-47. 

Perfection achieved. Another fantastic finish Joe. Always raising the bar 

Greatmaker

Perfection achieved. Another fantastic finish Joe. Always raising the bar 

 

Thanks Robert

Outstanding work Joe, just outstanding.

Thank you again for taking the time to post, I look forward to your next build.

Beautiful work dog as usual. The overall model and base detailing are out of the park!

I will be switching to the AK colors as I run out of my MM enamels. 

Sorry I managed to miss this whilst in progress, Joe, but also surely glad I found it.

Outstanding work.

It's comforting to know that even master modelers like yourself appreciate a kit that goes together right without minor fiddling. I sure like it better that way myself.

Thanks for the great WIP and positive critique of the kit. Makes me want to build this, or something Tamiya. Oh, and those gun barrels look great indeed.

If I recall correctly I read in Wings or Air Power Magazine, many years ago, the Mcguire actually pulled so many Gs in a turn while in combat that he bent the wings of a P-38. Anyone else have information on this.

damouav

Outstanding work Joe, just outstanding.

Thank you again for taking the time to post, I look forward to your next build.

 

Thanks Damian 

plasticjunkie

Beautiful work dog as usual. The overall model and base detailing are out of the park!

 

I will be switching to the AK colors as I run out of my MM enamels. 

 

Thanks PJ

Greg

Sorry I managed to miss this whilst in progress, Joe, but also surely glad I found it.

Outstanding work.

It's comforting to know that even master modelers like yourself appreciate a kit that goes together right without minor fiddling. I sure like it better that way myself.

Thanks for the great WIP and positive critique of the kit. Makes me want to build this, or something Tamiya. Oh, and those gun barrels look great indeed.

 

Hardly a master modeler, but thanks Greg. 

rangerj

If I recall correctly I read in Wings or Air Power Magazine, many years ago, the Mcguire actually pulled so many Gs in a turn while in combat that he bent the wings of a P-38. Anyone else have information on this.

 

Never heard this one. I did read that this thing could come close if not hit the sound barrier in a dive. They called it "compressibility" I guess. 

Very nice,i can only hope mine turns out half that good.

seastallion53

Very nice,i can only hope mine turns out half that good.

 

Thanks stallion 

waikong

Gorgeous kit, gorgeous build! How did I miss this thread till now? Do I have to put my hasegawa kit on ebay too? :)

 

Thanks! Absolutely....this thing has rendered the Hasegawa kit obsolete. Mine are going on eBay. Life is too short! 

You have really done a nice job with that kit. I love that color scheme and you have convinced me to look into this kit for sure.

Just to chime in on the compressibility theme. Think I read this many moons ago in Martin Caidin’s book “Fork-Tailed Devil”. IIRC the 38 would tuck its nose down and continue to steepen its dive in the compressibility zone no matter what the pilot did. It would eventually go vertical or even inverted while continuing to accelerate until the plane disintegrated or the pilot regained control. Must have been utterly terrifying. Back before the days of computer simulations the only way to find out an aircraft’s quirks was to fly it and experience them. Wow!!

Fantastic build by the way!