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

If it's not too late I'd like to join.  This will be my first group build and first model built in about 25 years.  I will be building a 1/48 Revellogram P-38J, probably the "Marge" version if I can find a way to brush or spray paint a NMF.  Being a rookie I'm sure I will be asking all of you pros for advice.  I am looking forward to this build!  Thanks.

dante821

If it's not too late I'd like to join.  This will be my first group build and first model built in about 25 years.  I will be building a 1/48 Revellogram P-38J, probably the "Marge" version if I can find a way to brush or spray paint a NMF.  Being a rookie I'm sure I will be asking all of you pros for advice.  I am looking forward to this build!  Thanks.

Sweet, another Revellogram build! I was very pleasantly surprised with the fit and quality when I did my test fitting last week...still making my mind up as far as how to tackle the NMF myself. Got Alclad and Talon, with some SnJ and polishing powders on order.

Personally I wouldn't try to brush a NMF. If you're going spray paint, Testors makes its Metalizer line in rattlecan form. 

Welcome aboard Dante, never too late to join. This is forming up slowly but I'm looking forward to it. (It may actually be easier to keep track of everyone in a smaller group!) I'll add you to the list up top. I think I'd go with the rattle can over brush-painting the silver. Give yourself lots of ventilation though, those things seem to kick up a lot more fumes than an airbrush does.

I'll be learning along the way and looking for advice myself, as I have NEVER built a Lightning!

DogsATX, I couldn't resist either, I did a quick tape-up on my kit just to check the main fuselage pieces. You're right, the fit actually looks pretty decent. I'm looking forwardd to this. And I should have just enough time to finish off the 2 Jap birds I'm working on right now.

Honestly.. the Mongramrevello P-38 is like the staple of the P-38 world.. gives you most all the later varients.. looks nice when done.. has some features,( open gun bay )...

its not real highly detailed in the landing gear bays,, but a lil work and she's a beut..

VanceCrozier

I'll be learning along the way and looking for advice myself, as I have NEVER built a Lightning!

DogsATX, I couldn't resist either, I did a quick tape-up on my kit just to check the main fuselage pieces. You're right, the fit actually looks pretty decent. I'm looking forwardd to this. And I should have just enough time to finish off the 2 Jap birds I'm working on right now.

I don't think I've ever built one either! Maybe when I was around ten or so...but I don't have any memory of a Lightning. Assuming that's the case, it's probably my most egregious "never built" this side of the Fw-190.

Which Jap birds are you finishing off? I've got two Commies on the bench right now, myself. Painting starts tonight (gear bays! exciting!), so I guess I should be finishing them off probably right around the end of the month or first week in November, so I may be a few days late to the start.

p38jl

its not real highly detailed in the landing gear bays,, but a lil work and she's a beut..

Eh, I'll just put mine on a lower shelf!

I noticed that about the gear bays too.  I guess I will resort to gizmology.  I haven't checked fit of mine yet.  I really like the surface detail though.  I hope I don't sand too much of it off during construction.  I don't want to try a rescribe; because, I would never be able to duplicate it.  I might try and go to the AM for some details though.  I don't really like using decals to represent the ip in 1/48.  Maybe, hint, hint, a p-38 guru will help us with good ways to spruce it up.

Cheers,

Greg

DoogsATX

 

 

 

...Which Jap birds are you finishing off?...

I've got a pair of 1/72 kits in the painting stage right now. (They are for the War in the Pacific GB, I'm like 4 months overdue! ) The Academy Zero, and a Ki-61 "Tony" from Dragon. I'm not really sure why I decided to double them up, as they really don't share any paint (Tony has a NMF, Zero is green over gray) other that the cockpit & landing gear bays.

All this talk about the Revellogram, what about the Academy kit?  Anybody built one of those yet?

i have not done one of those yet, but I have them in the stash..  I think there was more talk about the Revellogram due to the cost ( low ) and availability.. a few peeps got them as gifts..

 also.. the Revellogram lets u build the most varients for the buck..

there is lots of PE and resin AM out there to go hog wild on the -38, engine bays with engine, open gun bays, cockpits, wheels,, PE for screens, etc..

I just snagged on eBay, and conversion kit that gives enough parts for 5-6 differant version of the -38, and or enhancments.. one is a 300gal drop tank, converted to carry a man.. comes clear, you paint it and leave the nose clear and 2 side windows... neeto!! 

B17Pilot

All this talk about the Revellogram, what about the Academy kit?  Anybody built one of those yet?

I haven't built the Academy P-38 but from what I have seen of them and read they both have issue with the boom alignment. Takes a bit of persuasion to get them straight, I have built the Revellogram P-38J, the booms in my kit wanted to twist in. A bit of careful clamping with the elevator convinced them otherwise.

Ive herd that all P-38 kits have the boom alignment problem. I tried the Revell kit before and didnt like it, but then again I havent been a very big fan of Revell. I've test fit the Academy kit and it seems the only problems are the gaps between the wings and booms, and a little one by the cockpit. I will let everyone know more when the construction actually starts.

Got some goodies yesterday!

DoogsATX is starting an arms race!!

How do the gear look? I was thinking about picking up a set of those myself.

VanceCrozier

DoogsATX is starting an arms race!!

How do the gear look? I was thinking about picking up a set of those myself.

It looks pretty nice. This is my first experience with metal landing gear. The details look crisp - maybe not as crisp as you'd get with the best resin, but definitely an improvement over the kit parts. Also look like drop-in replacements, but I haven't done a test fit yet.

I did notice a few raised seams that might need to be filed down, though.

Doogs - You get those Ultracast wheels directly from Ultracast or some place in the US?  Would like to get me a set, cause the Academy kit has those dreadfull rubber tires

Anybody know if the SAC metal gear for either the Hasegawa or Revell kit will work on the Academy kit.  I haven't yet pulled it out of the stash to look at the gear, I just know that it comes with those dreadfull plastic eating rubber tires

I ordered from Ultracast directly. Couldn't find their P-38 stuff actually in stock anywhere, except for the smooth tires, which, well...BORING!

I'd actually been meaning to order some Ultracast bits for a Hasegawa P-40, too, so that helped spread the shipping (which really isn't any worse than anywhere else).

Not sure how the Academy's gear attaches, but I'm going to guess the Revellogram stuff wouldn't work, since if I remember the instructions correctly it's a trapped gear that you install as you're joining the booms together.

VanceCrozier

DoogsATX:

 

 

 

...Which Jap birds are you finishing off?...

 

I've got a pair of 1/72 kits in the painting stage right now. (They are for the War in the Pacific GB, I'm like 4 months overdue! ) The Academy Zero, and a Ki-61 "Tony" from Dragon. I'm not really sure why I decided to double them up, as they really don't share any paint (Tony has a NMF, Zero is green over gray) other that the cockpit & landing gear bays.

How do you like the Academy Zero? I'm thinking about grabbing one so I can address my glaring omision of never building a Japanese plane. I'm fairly well covered for the other WW2 combatants, but I don't even have anything Japanese in the stash (unless you count who makes the kit ) 

Aaronw

 

How do you like the Academy Zero?...

I like it, it's actually got quite a bit of detail right out of the box. (And let's be honest, how much do you really need at 1/72!) 3-part canopy that has a good thickness, decent little cockpit, panel lines are good, radial engine looks good to my eye, the landing gear are pretty good too. OOB decal options are both green-over-gray, but there should be lots of decal options out there if that doesn't get your attention. And the price couldn't be beat - I think mine (grabbed 2 of them!) were marked at $10, but the place I bought them from had all their Academy kits on clearance. I walked of of there with 2 Zeros, 2 Me163, a Hellcat & a Bf109.

There are some box-pics here:
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=956

OK, I couldn't resist! Waiting for some paint to dry on the workbench, I did a quick tape job to check fit & alignment on mine. Actually looks pretty good to be honest, I may not need as much putty as I planned on!

VanceCrozier

OK, I couldn't resist! Waiting for some paint to dry on the workbench, I did a quick tape job to check fit & alignment on mine. Actually looks pretty good to be honest, I may not need as much putty as I planned on!

Honestly.. the Revellogram -38 does build up nice when u take a moment and know that its not a Jewel in the box,, but a diamond in the rough..

As for AM and PE,, I've done lots of searching as someday I plan on having all the -38 varients on my shelf, and theres not alot of AM for the Revellogram.. BUT ,there is for the Hasa, Academy's, ,etc,, and I have a bunch of those that I;m going to make work on the Revellogram.. I have a bunch of all the differnat brands, currently I've only done the Revello...

We shall see with this new GB !!

Well I opened up my Academy kit and found I can not use either set of SAC landing gear, oh well.  I did order the Ultracast wheels and an eduard set

VanceCrozier

Aaronw:

 

How do you like the Academy Zero?...

 

I like it, it's actually got quite a bit of detail right out of the box. (And let's be honest, how much do you really need at 1/72!) 3-part canopy that has a good thickness, decent little cockpit, panel lines are good, radial engine looks good to my eye, the landing gear are pretty good too. OOB decal options are both green-over-gray, but there should be lots of decal options out there if that doesn't get your attention. And the price couldn't be beat - I think mine (grabbed 2 of them!) were marked at $10, but the place I bought them from had all their Academy kits on clearance. I walked of of there with 2 Zeros, 2 Me163, a Hellcat & a Bf109.

There are some box-pics here:
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=956

Thanks, I ended up getting the Academy Zero and a Hasegawa Jack, so my P-38 will have something to play with.

It looks like I've got the Revell P-38 L/M and a Dragon F-5 (recon P-38) both are 1/72. I ordered one of the Academy kits too, so I'll have a look at them and see which I want to do when this kicks off next week.

Hey guys, anybody have any pictures, drawings etc, of the RIO's space in the -M nightfighter?  The R-M kit is pretty empty back there.

Cheers,

Greg

Well I was able to get the Dragon Pathfinder and Droopsnoot which were the two kits that actually got me interested in getting some P-38s a month or two ago. Of course as these things go, both of those kits suddenly dried up a few days before I was going to order them. Turned out well though, because now Sprue Bros has a pile of the 1/72 Dragon kits (pathfinder, droopsnoot, recon, nightfighter and P-38J) and they are on sale for roughly 1/2 price ($13 +/- vs the $22 I was going to pay before they vanished). I guess it does pay to wait.

Of course now I'm going to have a harder time deciding where to start, but I'm heavily leaning towards the droopsnoot or pathfinder.

Ok so this kicks off next week and still no badge?

If Vance , not anyone else objects, I will work on one...

I sent Vance some pics fo possible options, he said in a message that he was going to do it. Maybe he can make a few different ones and we can vote on the best one.

Hey guys, sorry, worked on it over the weekend with no post-up of the options. (And it's a small group, I'm cool with a vote!) Will slip them up here over lunch today.

Vance

p38jl

If Vance , not anyone else objects, I will work on one...

oops,,. shoulda been "nor",, not , not

Ok,Vance!