Apologies for not posting in a while . Had a big order come in at work , long days, as well as a few other life snags during January that made build/computer time at a premium. Some days as little as half an hour or none at all. Also got around to finishing up my 1/48 Witchcraft Lib, which turned out great .
Have been keeping an eye on the goings on here . Everyones putting out some awesome work. Vance, I really like the dropped fowler flaps. Neat stuff. I'll have to refer back to that when I get around to building the Revell P-38J in my stash. I would also like to drop the flaps next time I build a Revellogram 1/48 Liberator( also with fowler flaps.
I have made some forward progress on my Acadamy P-38F, and since things here in my little corner have settled down , should be able to pick up some steam with this build. Here's pics.
Thinned down the edges of the radiator openings and other assorted scoops.
Ended up using a fine brass screen for the radiators , then enclosed inside with scraps of sheet plastic.
Made a backstop to help contain the weight going into the nose . Then cut and stacked slabs of lead sheet with the booms and tail plane mocked up with tape.
The lead sheet is scraps from the vent stack boots roofers use . It's wonderful how it can be flattened, rolled folded, cut, and shaped to all kinds of weighting applications. Came in handy keeping the nose down on a big Liberator. You can fit slivers of this stuff in all kinds of places.
Drilled out cooler inlets and felt they weren't deep enough so I added some bits of plastic and re drilled before mounting screen.
Spruced up the main bays with some scratched detail and replaced the coolant pipes with solder when the kit parts didn't fit as well as I liked. Then some weathering with washes and pigment powders. They will get a little more weathering after paint .
Gave the sills, seat , floor a dusting of pigments .
Next up is to busy up the nose gear bay and attach the booms and tail. More pics soon.
Howard.