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

Alright, early lunch = early posting of the three options! (I should spend this much time on actually building the things!!) Lets cut off the voting end of day Thursday, should give our little band enough time to see & decide:

(Edit: badges now on page 1)

Can I vote for all three?

my vote,, #2 then #3...

Agree, #2 then #3

All three are good!  I think 2 and then 3.

I went ahead and ordered the Detail and Scale part II, J-M and F-5.  I should have it next week.  The FSM special "Essential Techniques For The Model Builder" from summer '09, has a good article on building the Monogram as an F-5.  It has some good hints for building the Monogram, even if you are building another version.  It has given me a bunch of ideas on sprucing up my kit with scratchbuilding.  I'm looking forward to starting.

Cheers,

Greg

I'd be fine with any of them, but I'll throw my vote to #3.

I think any of the three would be great but I really prefer #2.

I'd vote #2 if it wasn't for the purple text...

That's not purple, it's "Grauviolett"... heavy on the violett!!

Alright Gentlemen, looks like #2 is the winner, will post the single version asap today. Doogs, would you like to see a version that is less purple, the Doogs Special, just for you!?

Badges are up folks, on page 1 of this thread. Time to get all hyped up on Halloween candy over the weekend, then start looking at your P-38 goodies. Talk to you all soon,

Vance

VanceCrozier

Alright Gentlemen, looks like #2 is the winner, will post the single version asap today. Doogs, would you like to see a version that is less purple, the Doogs Special, just for you!?

I think I'll manage!

I like the special one better!

Consider them both officially endorsed, feel free to use either one.

ok,,lets get readddddy to rummmmmmmble!!

B17Pilot

I like the special one better!

It's funny. At work, we have sort of in-joke shorthand for groundless and annoying client requests.

That shorthand?

"Can you make it more blue?"

DoogsATX

 

"Can you make it more blue?"

Oh, but not THAT blue!

Vance.. I will puroose my stash and give you my Build choices...by Monday..~

I may have to update my choice - I still want to build the NF version... but I see someone else running a nightfighter GB. So I may save that one until winter/spring and start on one of the other options for this GB! Luckily I have multiple copies to work with!!!

I wont be starting mine till after new years most likely, work has picked up and I'm having a hard time finish the models I've been committed to already.

No problem, that's why these things work best when they are stretched out over a longer period!

Alright, time to start!  I am building the P-38M Nightfighter version by Revellogram, and I have a few questions for anyone else building this version.  I've read that P-38s had their wheel wells and boom interiors painted silver laquer, but I have seen some painted green zinc chromate.  Does anybody know which is correct for this version?  Has anybody seen what the radar operators compartment look like?  As for the canvas IP cover, is it olive drab like the other versions, or is it black?    Also, the main gear has the leg extending up into the boom unlike the 1/1 version.  Is there a reason for this?  It appears that the SAC metal gear does it too.  Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Greg

I'm looking forward to some of this info too, haven't stumbled across many images of the NF versions online yet.
EDIT - found this today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightning72/3968591689/#/photos/lightning72/3968591689/lightbox/

and this:
http://en.valka.cz/attachments/2102/P38M-2.JPG

They wern't used for very long... so, there may not be to much out there..

Gregbbear

Also, the main gear has the leg extending up into the boom unlike the 1/1 version.  Is there a reason for this?  It appears that the SAC metal gear does it too.  Any help would be appreciated.

I'm confused? Where else would it extend? As far as I can tell the Revellogram and/or SAC gear is passable for the real thing, with allowances made for the way the kit is engineered. Though now I'm going to have to totally investigate scratching those holes in the gear doors...

Great close-up. Funny, main gear tires have grooves, nosegear tires are diamond-pattern...

Here are a couple of pictures.

The top pic is for the Monogram.  See how it extends farther at the top?  It fits up into a hole in the gear bay floor.  I was thinking about scratching the detail you see in the pic DoogATX posted.  I will have to put a sheet styrene floor and bulkheads though.  The other pic is for another brand P-38.  See how it doesn't have that extended part on the top?  I guess that was my question.  Is there a purpose for that?  Thanks.

Greg

Gotcha.

I think it's just for ultra-super-positive piece location. 

Personally I'm not going to focus too much on the detail inside the gear bays themselves. Doors will be visible without turning the plane over, so I'll probably pay some attention there... Unless I change my mind when I start the build!

I checked out those images, thanks!  The first one, is by far the best shot I've seen of rear cockpit detail.

Also, if you compare/contrast those landing gear pics, the bottom set looks more accurate than the ones for Monogram.  Notice how the braces on the side of the actual P-38 versus the front on the Monogram version?  I know this all sounds kind of "rivet counterish", sorry.  Usually, I am a firm believer in gizmology instead.  Thanks for the help.

Cheers,

Greg

Gregbbear

Also, if you compare/contrast those landing gear pics, the bottom set looks more accurate than the ones for Monogram.  Notice how the braces on the side of the actual P-38 versus the front on the Monogram version?  I know this all sounds kind of "rivet counterish", sorry.  Usually, I am a firm believer in gizmology instead.  Thanks for the help.

Cheers,

Greg

The pic is from the back of the gear, so it's tough to tell what's going on up front. I know the SAC gear includes the brace extending from the main strut out to the "T", it's just a separate piece. The lower oleo hinge thingy (technical term) is correct from the other pics I've found.

I'm just not sure about that second hinge arm higher up. Been looking for pics but none of them show the right angle.

You can see the lower half of that upper hinge in this pic (may have to enlarge). But the pics in the bay make it look like it continues on rather than folding back to the main strut.

Also, I dare anybody to scratchbuild this!