dazzjazz

I'm close to starting my paint job in the same kit. How can I get nice feathered camouflage like yours please? Normally I'd use blutack but sometimes I get a poor result. 

 

Dazzjazz, I used blutack sausages about 2mm in diameter. I've found that it's important to keep the airbrush at a 90 degree angle to the surface. hope that helps. Good luck. 

I'm close to starting my paint job in the same kit. How can I get nice feathered camouflage like yours please? Normally I'd use blutack but sometimes I get a poor result. 

TheMongoose

Oh this turned out really sweet!! Superb weathering.

ive got this same combo going now. do you have any close ups of how you attached the antenna wires to the tails and thru the canopy By chance?

 

Thanks Mongoose! Glad you like the weathering. That was my focus on this one. 

As for the rigging, I first made a 5mm length of EZ line with a small loop at one end and attached the closed end to the back of the canopy hinge assembly with super glue. I did this before attaching the canopy to avoid crazing of the clear plastic. I'm not sure if this is where the line was supposed to be attached but it must be close. I didn't actually connect the wire to the top of the canopy where I think there's a feed through because I was worried about marring the clear portion of the canopy. 

Next I attached one end of a long piece of EZ line to one of the vertical fins at the intersection panel lines at the leading edge with super glue. Then I ran the other end of the line through the loop in the line at the canopy and over to the other vertical fin. After super gluing the end to the fin, I balanced out the tension in the two lines and painted them RLM75 (medium gray) and touched up the ends with some OD paint. 

I cropped some relevant photos that I hope show enough detail. Hope this helps. 

Oh this turned out really sweet!! Superb weathering.

ive got this same combo going now. do you have any close ups of how you attached the antenna wires to the tails and thru the canopy By chance?

modelcrazy

Beautiful job Hoss! That's one of the best 38's I've seen!

 

Thanks modelcrazy!  Much appreciated.

Shipwreck

Hoss, you did a real fine job on your P-38!

 

Thanks Shipwreck!

lawdog114

Turned out great Hoss.  That silver pencil on the upper wings must have taken forever.  I've been experimenting with the hairspray technique lately.  I figure I'll try it out in this area on my next P-38. 

 

Indded these were huge.  I was surprised how big the Stuka was too.  

 

Thanks Lawdog. I'm going to pick a subject with far less wear for my next subject.

I'm interested in the hairspray approach also and will give that a shot at some point. 

Gamera

That's superb Hoss!!! WOW!!! 

Makes me want to pull my kit out and start on her now! But mine would never look as good as yours. That chipping on the mid-wing section between the booms- that's perfect! I can never get mine to look quite right. 

 

Thanks Gamera! Much appreciated. For the paint chipping, I did my best to replicate the superb artwork on the Exito decal profile. Thanks again. 

gregbale

Superb work!

The slightly-dusty look o/a is just perfect.

 

Thanks Greg.

Beautiful job Hoss! That's one of the best 38's I've seen!

Turned out great Hoss.  That silver pencil on the upper wings must have taken forever.  I've been experimenting with the hairspray technique lately.  I figure I'll try it out in this area on my next P-38. 

Indded these were huge.  I was surprised how big the Stuka was too.  

That's superb Hoss!!! WOW!!! 

Makes me want to pull my kit out and start on her now! But mine would never look as good as yours. That chipping on the mid-wing section between the booms- that's perfect! I can never get mine to look quite right. 

rocketman2000

The P-38 is such a sleek airframe. I was surprised how big it is compared to a Mustang or 109. 

 

Remember, in addition to the second engine's weight, there is the second engine's fuel consumption.  Plus, the Lightning was designed as a long range fighter, so it would have larger fuel tanks than normal anyway, plus to have long range with a second engine I think it is marvelously compact for the mission.  The 109 was a very small airplane, but the lightning is, agreed, a lot bigger than the -51, but it figures.  The -38 was a big success and carried out its original mission very nicely (once they got the turbochargers figured out).

 

 

 

First time I met her I had to ask.

"Did you ever meet Kelly Johnson?"

"Yes".

"What was your impression?".

"Crusty".

He had a memorable quote about this airplane that went something like;

'First we stuck an engine on, then a wheel well, then a suoercharger and some radiators and next thing we knew, we were at the tail'.

Bill

Superb work!

The slightly-dusty look o/a is just perfect.

MR TOM SCHRY

Excellent build!  I'd say that you accomplished ALL of your goals for this kit.  Love the P-38, especially the earlier models in olive drab.  You've convinced me to pull the trigger on this kit.

TJS

 

Thanks Tom! Much appreciated. You'll love the kit. 

JohnnyK

Super nice build! Nice job on the weathering. 

 

Thanks Johnny!

goldhammer88

Very nicely done.  Your tape residue came out great.  Doing the same kit as Barber's.

 

Thanks goldhammer!

rocketman2000

The P-38 is such a sleek airframe. I was surprised how big it is compared to a Mustang or 109. 

 

Remember, in addition to the second engine's weight, there is the second engine's fuel consumption.  Plus, the Lightning was designed as a long range fighter, so it would have larger fuel tanks than normal anyway, plus to have long range with a second engine I think it is marvelously compact for the mission.  The 109 was a very small airplane, but the lightning is, agreed, a lot bigger than the -51, but it figures.  The -38 was a big success and carried out its original mission very nicely (once they got the turbochargers figured out).

Thanks rocketman -- interesting background info. 

RickS

Simply beautiful build!  May I ask where you got the model stand visible in some of the pics?  I have something similar for my RC models, but have never seen one for smaller plastic models.

 

Thanks Rick! I ordered the stand online:  

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/product_info.php?products_id=3101

Excellent build!  I'd say that you accomplished ALL of your goals for this kit.  Love the P-38, especially the earlier models in olive drab.  You've convinced me to pull the trigger on this kit.

TJS

Super nice build! Nice job on the weathering. 

Simply beautiful build!  May I ask where you got the model stand visible in some of the pics?  I have something similar for my RC models, but have never seen one for smaller plastic models.

Very nicely done.  Your tape residue came out great.  Doing the same kit as Barber's.

The P-38 is such a sleek airframe. I was surprised how big it is compared to a Mustang or 109. 

Remember, in addition to the second engine's weight, there is the second engine's fuel consumption.  Plus, the Lightning was designed as a long range fighter, so it would have larger fuel tanks than normal anyway, plus to have long range with a second engine I think it is marvelously compact for the mission.  The 109 was a very small airplane, but the lightning is, agreed, a lot bigger than the -51, but it figures.  The -38 was a big success and carried out its original mission very nicely (once they got the turbochargers figured out).

My rendition of "Beautiful Lass," John G. O'Neill's P-38G aircraft in New Guinea during 1943, is now complete. 

The focus for this build was to convey the heat, wear, exhaust and especially the marks left from the tape used to protect the seams during transport over the Pacfic. I used the Exito decals profile as well as photos as my guide for painting and weathering. 

The profile highlighted quite a bit a color variation on the OD areas as well as chips and scratches in heavy wear areas. 

2mm Tamiya flexible tape was applied over the main seams, followed by a light, dilute flat black shading to represent the varnish residue after tape removal. 

The Exito decals were flawless and some of the Tamiya kit stencils were used. I only applied X100 gloss in the areas where decals were applied. 

I tried a pin wash with diluted black paint instead of the usual Flory wash, which worked well with the color scheme. The panel lines are very refined and precise on this kit. 

The final flat coat was Model Master Flat Clear Lacquer.

Exhaust staining was applied using dark yellow, white, gray, black, brown and khaki colors, built up slowly. 

I sequenced the build to add the guns, exhaust and canopy after the main painting and weathering was complete. 

EZline was used for the antenna, which was rigged before the canopy was attached. I always paint the cables RLM 75. 

The profile indicated very heavy exhaust staining with residue apparent on the vertical tail fins as well. 

Chips and scratches were applied with silver pencil. The profile had a excellent detail on the rivet patterns and was followed for the wear marks. 

I was impressed with the cockpit details - the armored front glass, gunsight, armored front plate and canopy framing is all remarkably detailed. 

The P-38 is such a sleek airframe. I was surprised how big it is compared to a Mustang or 109.  

The nose art decals are certainly a highlight on this scheme. Something was needed to spice up olive drab over neutral grey. 

Thanks for looking! 

Continuing to make progress on Tamiya's wonder-kit. Priming and main camo complete. This is one of those P-38's with the tape seams everywhere from shipping across the Pacific, so that's next. 

lawdog114

Perhaps the best kit ever made.  It's almost laughably good.  Your work so far is stellar Hoss.  Great subject too.  I'll be doing Perry Dahl's Skidoo soon.  

 

Thanks! It sure is a great kit. In fact, I've already purchased another one, lol. 

keavdog

making great progress.  The pit looks fantastic.  

 

Thanks keavdog!