P-38 Lightning group build - Are we there yet???

no prob!

Finally got the kit in primer and inspected the final time for seam FUBAR's. And decided on a color for the wheel wells and gear so it's time for paint.
Before I get to into that though, I need to decide how to attach the gear doors. I don't want to be fiddling with the attachment and messing up the paint because I tend to add gear doors last.

Sounds good hkshooter. What color did you decide on for the wheel wells? I painted everything in the nose bay interior green but am having second thoughts about it now.  I don't have much reference material, just some walkarounds I found online, and don't know if they should be green or white. What I've seen online are white.

I'm still plugging (or plodding) along. Got all the radiators made and fitted, but not glued in. Made bulkheads for the front and rear of the rear gear bays. Tried puttying and shaping the glue-on fronts to the radiator openings but didn't get the shape quite right so glued them on and applied some more putty tonite. Did a little sanding on the boom halves so they mate a little better. And that's about it. I've snapped pictures along the way but thought I'd wait until I was putting the booms together to post them.

May not seem like a lot of progress but I've been painting a couple of cars I had going too. And wonder of wonders, I finally got one of them coated in Tamiya Lemon Yellow without it color shifting to orange along the edges and lines.

Tony

Shooter.  I just saw a review in Modeling Madness where the builder bemoaned the attachment of the gear doors.  He suggested sanding the gear door down in the middle to flatten the door's edge to the gear bay's frame edge.  I'm not sure how much that would take?  I haven't even dry fitted mine yet.  I may look into drilling out the frame and door and inserting small gauge wire.  I'll have to see if the door can handle it.  If it makes you feel better, I've painted my gear bays a zinc chromate/ interior green mix.  The chromate alone was just too BRIGHT ! 

I've attached the booms and am pleasantly surprised after hearing and seeing some of the problems that have been encountered.  There's some sanding and rescribing to be done, and then I'd like to slip the gear in the slots and see if I've embedded enough lead in the nose to stand her up on all three.  Wheels Up!  Rick

Tony, I went with Neutral Gray for the wheel bays. My final decision was based primarily by comments contained in the following link. These guys are accuracy fanatics and whenever their names pop up in posts I pay attention.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1209270295/Joe%2C+Here%27s+previous+posts+to+HS+ref-+P-38+wheel+well+colors

Sounds like you are making good progress on your build and I'm happy you didn't have to deal with cursed boom fit. My kit actually fit pretty well in the boom area, the biggest problem being gaps at the horzontal tail surfaces. Will look forward to seeing some pics.

Rick,
I'm thinking along the same lines as you. I've added small bits of styrene to mimic the triangular hinge mounts and I'm considering adding wire to them. I would drill holes in the wheel well interior to accept the wires and CA them in place. Once done, touch up the paint and wire "hinges" with neutral gray. Once I get them made up and tested I'll post some pics. As it stands now, I've painted the wells and door interiors gray and just have to figure out the attachment. Once I'm confident I can attach the doors without wrecking the paint job I'll go forward with the paint.
As far as color, yeah, I've seen everything under the sun in there that would make sense but still havent located color wartime pics to confirm. Everything I've seen is a restored plane or black and white. The link above I'll hold as the gospel for now. In a nutshell, I'm sticking with early bird, painted silver. Late bird, neutral gray. In my case I'm also going with silver lacquer gear legs. I almost went with neutral gray gear because I like the look but I wanted to add a bit of color to the all gray underside.

Well, I'd like to show some of the progress that has been made on the F-5E.  I filled up space in the gear bays with some wire and do-dads.  I was looking to clutter up that space with a degree of believability.  I also put blanking sheets in the boom intercooler radiators and actuator rods on the radiator flaps, none of which can be seen in this photo.

I did manage to set the aircraft on it's landing gear and temporarily rest the nose (which I filled with lead shot) on the center section.  The weight is good if not a little heavy.

This evening I attached the nose, and contrary to reviews, had a very good fit.  I also attached the chins on the booms.  I've got a bit of putty work, sanding, and seam restoration to do.  But at this point it looks like the frame lines are good.  Rick

Wabash,, looking good.!

Woooo-hoooo, no longer MIA!!! Thank you for not starting a mutiny gents, you all seem rather well-behaved considering you've been left on your own!

Well I'd like to make a couple of general comments...

1. the cockpit and landing gear work that is going on here is incredible, I had no idea this was an all-star team.
2. I am encouraged seeing such high-end work requiring gobs of filler! It gives hope to the rest of us!
3. I'm sure I've overloaded my brain & will likely forget to make several comments - bear with me...

Once I'm offline in a few minutes I'll be back at the bench. My dry-fit alignment still seems pretty good actually, I'm optimistic! I blanked off the air inlets etc on the booms and added some phony structure, but no mesh. Added my weight but now that I'm testing again, think I've actually over-done it. Good thing I sprung for those metal gear!

• B17Pilot - yikes - your rudder picture... you've got the fork-tailed fork-tailed devil don't you!?
• ww2psycho - hey buddy, keep posting the pics & we'll keep you in on the GB! I think this a/c lends itself to issues.
• Spike190 - good job scratching that seat - looks just as good as the resin I picked up for mine.
• Theuns - welcome to the poor fit club - I wonder if the smaller 1/72 creates more issues because you only have so much "wiggle-room" to work with? Yours looks good from the first built-up pic though.
• Wabashwheels  - looking forward to pics of the recon bird - are you going to do any crazy detailing in the camera bays? Thanks for the note on attaching the gear doors, I may do a little flattening.
• Wingman_kz - congrats on the great marks egghead! I like the amazing transition between parts on the bench and look, a cockpit you could live in!! I need one of those magic wands!! Nice job with the plumbing inside the forward engine nacelles. You seem to know the internals. Now you've got me thinking about scratching the air intake front & backs… ahhh, that'll be for the next one I guess!
• daddy1 - Rolling down the windows… success! You seem to be a little obsessive compulsive about your glass, are you in the window business by any chance??
• Doogs - maybe I missed it - what was the trick you used with the stabilizer. On Swanny's?? I'll check it out as I'm still in subassembly mode. You'd better get your Lightning back on the bench, if only to make use of your scratchbuilt hinge!  Maybe a quick sacrifice of old sprue to the putty gods will help? When this is all done, you should permanently mount Smith's cone of shame in your work area, for those days when you need a reminder of how a project can go wrong!
• P-38 Guy - again, thanks for the information you are providing the builders; it seems most of us are new to the Lightning!
• hkshooter - Great job with all the air scoops, really brings that area back to scale look. Wow, look at the work in the gear bays - so you've done time in a Lockheed plant as far as I can tell. That looks incredible! How are you (well, any of you!) getting the proper shape for your gear bay boxing? Are you getting the shape before closing the halves up? Props - I'd be tempted to use multiple kits - I'd be tempted to snip the blades off of one set, then use the other set only for the spinner section, drill that out, then re-assemble them. That sounds like it's coming from the make-work dept. though.

whewww, that was a big update. Anyway, I should be back in the groove here now, glad to be back!

Glad to see ya back, Vance. That second page thing just won't do.

Got paint base coats on tonight. Talk about a marathon paint session. With those twin booms it's like painting two single engine fighters at the same time. I about had a cramp.

Wheels are still not hear yet but once I get them done and on I'll post some pics. Right now it looks like what you expect it to, boring OD over NG and no gear or props.

Thanks hkshooter - glad to be back. No family around tonight, I should have multiple hours at the table by myself, should have some progress pics to share afterward.

Vance buddy~!

 Glad ur doing good !

Vance I hope to get my gear out and get back to the bench real soon, all got cleared away for the holidays and I just aint found the time to get going again.... yet.

Keep up the great work everyone.

Cheers...

Vance--Is it still possible to join this GB.  Wabshwheels at the Mighty 8th GB suggested it.  My second bird for that GB is a P-38 J from the 20th FG.  Its Minicraft 1:48.  I am pretty far along.  Fuselage is closed and seam sanding nearly done.  The cockpit is done.  I posted some photos below before it went into the fuse.  It is a True Details AM upgrade with some bits from an Eduard set too.  I have a set of wheels from TD to go on later.

Hey Clebode, sounds like you have a lot done already, but I checked out your timeline in the Mighty 8th GB - you're actually running pretty close to the same timelines we already are. You've been in this GB already, you just didn't know it!! I see no problem throwing you on here as well - welcome aboard. Another one with a ridiculously well-done cockpit! Make sure you throw some more in-progress pics at us though. I am learning that the P-38 really lends itself to showing other folks how you have overcome some of its challenges!

Welcome aboard, Hugh. Pit looks good, now how about some of that seam work? SEAMS ( get it?) all P-38 kits have some that need big attention.

Still waiting for those wheels so instead of sitting and looking at it I thought I shoot some gloss and work on small bits.
After some work cleaning up those hideous props I decided they didn't look to bad. In an effort to hide the fact that the blades are molded into the spinner I use a scribe and cut a line around the base of the blades where they go through the spinner.
Before.......

And after.

Paint and gloss coat.

I installed the gear without the wheels so I could work on paint without fear of damaging it on the bench top. And so it goes......

Well gents...I'm jumping back in!

Planning to pull the Revellogram J down off the shelf. Might try to steal some of the better bits out of the Academy kit if they'll fit up alright (namely the props and spinners).

I'm still not sure of the markings, but I'm leaning toward an OD/NG scheme.

Good to have you back, doog! That old kit won't let you down. Seems like the rougher one gets with the putty and sanding sticks the more the kit likes it.

HK,, nice idea!

Doogs,, glad to have ya back !

One thing to note for those of you working on the gear doors. On the main gear doors when they open the middle of the door comes out over and covers the side a bit and the front and rear are pretty much even with the well. Not the best picture but I will try and something better.

Mike

http://www.kazoku.org/xp-38n/walkaround/tillamook/dsc05440_med.jpg

http://www.kazoku.org/xp-38n/walkaround/tillamook/dsc05482_med.jpg

http://www.kazoku.org/xp-38n/walkaround/tillamook/dsc05484_med.jpg

http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/howard_mason3/p-38_lightning/images/p-38_lightning_17_of_29.jpg

Those crazy hinges are a beeotch to replicate so tiny. Wish there were a PE version. I'm punting on my own kit, using stainless steel pins drilled into the openings to CA the door to to hold them on. I'm running out of patience and don't have time or desire to fabricate those hinges.

I just checked and Eduard has a number of etch sets that include not only the hinges for the gear doors but also the interiors of the wheel wells. Neat looking sets but spendy too.

Lotsa nice stuff going on here, I cant join up but I have been lurking. I have even been taking notes for my next P-38 build.

Vance glad to see you back at the bench again. With all the talent in here these guys were just too busy building to be bad boys

hkshooter - good call on scribing the props, that's what I'm trying with them as well. That good ol' Revel plastic is soft enough to make this pretty easy! Thanks for the gear cover pics.

DoogsATX - I just knew you couldn't stay away. Once you've danced with the fork-tail devil…   You can call this an unintentional kitbash I suppose.

Thanks for that pic Mike (P-38 Guy), that opens up some options for using better attachment points than just edge-glueing.

Vetteman - lurking is always encouraged around here. That's what you should tell the authorities anyway!

OK, it may be the fumes getting to me but here goes. Am I completely nuts for even thinking about… dropping the flaps & offsetting the control surfaces? All opinions are welcomed, I think. I've done it on 1/72, where I can get away with scribing & re-glueing for the most part. But this would require big sections from top & bottom portions, boxing them in, etc. Do I go for it???

Vance...

I triple Dog dare yah..!

p38jl

Vance...

I triple Dog dare yah..!

P38jl created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!

Pay attention to how you cut the flaps. The tops of the wings do not drop with the flaps like a corsair but are more like TBD or Spitfire.

Thanks for the heads-up hkshooter. The Revell kit actually does have this represented right on the flaps. There is a line of rivets there but no panel divider line. I've got four flaps to drop don't I?! I'll have to go looking at the photos that have been gathered here - I don't actually recall seeing them down on any of them. I may invoke artistic license on this one & do it anyway. The more I think about it, the more I want to liven up the overall NF black finish.

ps... Vance,,

the flaps also extend, not just drop.. they have rails that they ride out on, then drop..