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

DoogsATX

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!

i bet Fermis could do it.... lol

Thanks Doog, I see I had part of it wrong.  It wasn't that the brace was in the wrong place, just missing, and the kit part of the part (???) is there.  As for scratchbuilding that, my brain hurt just looking at the picture.

Cheers,

Greg

Gregbbear

As for scratchbuilding that, my brain hurt just looking at the picture.

Maybe it was just an early prototype for the internet (series of tubes)

p38jl

i bet Fermis could do it.... lol

I bet he could!!

p38jl

 

 

 

 

 

Seen MASH lately? It looks like the still that Hawkeye & Trapper built...

I believe that is why gizmology became a word, someone would have to be nuts to try and accurately run all that plumbing when some randomly placed tubing would do the job. It makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.

VanceCrozier

p38jl:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen MASH lately? It looks like the still that Hawkeye & Trapper built...

                                                                       did I get it under the tap ???...

Charles ?? stop with that horrible music!!

Just wanted to bring us back to the first page.  Bought a contour gage to aid in construction of firewalls and bulkheads.  I'm looking forward to using it tomorrow.  So far, I have been using test fitting for the first couple.  I'll post some progress shots tomorrow.

Cheers,

Greg

Well since Nov 1 has come and gone, I guess we can get started. I've decided to go with the 1/72 Academy P-38J using the California Cutie markings. The Academy kit looks like it has fewer potential issues, and is an OD / Grey so no NMF to deal with so it will be a good intro to P-38s.

Yes, time to get started up gang. Or at least, we're all authorized to do so now. I'm waiting on a few bits from my LHS, but I'll likely be doing some fitting & cleanup over the next few days.

Aaronw - you're a P-38 rookie too? Glad I'm not alone!!

VanceCrozier

Yes, time to get started up gang. Or at least, we're all authorized to do so now. I'm waiting on a few bits from my LHS, but I'll likely be doing some fitting & cleanup over the next few days.

Aaronw - you're a P-38 rookie too? Glad I'm not alone!!

I'll probably be starting up tomorrow. Have to give the parts a good bath, then it'll be on to cleanup and hopefully building up the cockpit!

I think I'm a P-38 rookie, too. At least, I don't remember building one when I was a a kid...

I've never built one. But it will be a good chance to use this putty ive had laying around that I've never used before.

Got my Ultracast order in yesterday.  The wheels are great!!  Couldn't resist, got one of their seats for my 38 has well.  Even better, there's two seats in the package, so if'n I don't screw up the first one, I can use it on another one (when I buy it).

B17Pilot

Got my Ultracast order in yesterday.  The wheels are great!!  Couldn't resist, got one of their seats for my 38 has well.  Even better, there's two seats in the package, so if'n I don't screw up the first one, I can use it on another one (when I buy it).

Those wheels are real beauties, aren't they? I've got a smattering of True Details, CMK, and Ultracast wheels destined for various kits, and the Ultracast ones just destroy the others. I think the P-38 wheels are probably the best ones yet.

Didn't order the seats...but it turns out my P-47 needs the covered wheels...so I might just throw the P-38 seats in there while I'm at it. 

Question for others building the Revellogram - I don't have it in front of me here at work, but is the seat a separate piece? I ordered an Ultracast seat for my Monogram P-47, only to find that the cockpit tub - including the seat - is all one piece. Waaay too much hassle to cut it out. Doh!

Those Ultracast wheels are ten times better than the kits ones, that's for sure!

DoogsATX the seat in the Monogram P-38 is separate from the tub, I just checked the instruction sheet from my old build to make sure the memory was working correctly.

I have been keeping an eye and lurking this group, I cant join it but want to watch. Cant wait to see some building going on.

vetteman42

DoogsATX the seat in the Monogram P-38 is separate from the tub, I just checked the instruction sheet from my old build to make sure the memory was working correctly.

I have been keeping an eye and lurking this group, I cant join it but want to watch. Cant wait to see some building going on.

Awesome! Added to the cart and ordered. Not sure how the Master P-38 armament set ended up in there...

Wheels are already starting to turn in my mind about how to approach this build. Got some ideas for scratching detail on the interior of the gear doors. Trying to figure out what to do about the IP. If I recall from my quick inspection it's just a blank of plastic in the upper fuselage. Maybe filing it thin, drilling holes, and backing it with some sheet styrene and Mike Grant decals. Hmm...

vetteman42

I have been keeping an eye and lurking this group, I cant join it but want to watch. Cant wait to see some building going on.

Lurkers are always welcome!

DoogsATX

Not sure how the Master P-38 armament set ended up in there...

The same way the seat got into my order, when all I wanted was the wheels.

I'm pretty sure I built a P-38 as a kid, but that would have been 25-30 years ago. So yeah, I'm pretty much a P-38 rookie.

I am another P-38 rookie too.  Haven't built a model since I was a teenager when I would build them in one day and paint it the next day.  Needless to say they didn't come out very good.  I've ordered an Ultracast seat,  True detail wheels, landing gear and  Master gun barrels.  I will probably start next week and will be definitely asking a lot of questions.  I am looking forward to watching and learning alot from this group build.

The one and only P-38 I built was a 1/48 Monogram P-38M when I was a little kid.  It was brush painted gloss black.  In my mind, it rocked!

Now, 30 years or so later....

Since I haven't get my P-38 book yet, I haven't started the cockpit.  I decided to start with the booms.  I drilled out the little scoops, added faux radiators, bulkheads, floors, and firewalls.  I cut the landing gear mounts into "C" shapes, so I can add them later.  So far, so good!  The front of the scoops for the radiators had a horrible fit.  Actually, one fit, the other three needed plastic shims. 

I am looking forward to starting the pit.  I got an I.P. and a rear seat from the spares box.  I need to get a different gunsight though.  Any suggestions?

Cheers,

Greg

Vance, OK, I'm done lurking this Thread.  It sounds like a good group, So I'd like to join.  I'm fortunate to have Monogram, Hasegawa, and Academy versions of the P-38 in 1/48.  I built the Monogram 8-10 years ago in NMF (probably Krylon rattle can), but I remember it as a good build with few problems.  But I wasn't attempting the detail then that I am now.  I'm intrigued with the two seater version, but I'd like to dig out my options and think about what one I'd like to build.   BTW, I think the gear bay photos put me over the top.  Count me in,  Thanks.  Rick.

Great to have you aboard Rick!

Greg, bonus points for the first construction pics! (Sorry DoogsATX, yours were only taped up! ) Yep, I'll probably be starting on the booms this weekend. I'mm be a slow starter as I'm trying to finish of a couple of 1/72 kits, and I have now undertaken Dad's annual Christmas model, a Dodge Charger R/T)

Today was a very good day on the P-38 front.

Had to make the drive to San Antonio for a wedding, and on the way out I swung by the mailbox to find a box from Sprue Bros. containing, among other things, P-38 seats and the gorgeous Master armament set.

Made sure I got into San Antonio a bit early so I could swing by a LHS. Hill Country Hobby isn't all that big, maybe the size of my living room, but I swear it's probably got more kits than Kings Hobby here in Austin. Solid paint selection too. Testors, Tamiya, Vallejo, even Gunze if you'd believe it. Better tool selection, too, though they don't come close in terms of PE and other aftermarket stuff. 

They've also got a shelf at the back stocked with consignment kits. One thing led to another, and even though I promised the wife I wouldn't buy any more kits, I walked out with this baby for $20:

Since I'm going natural metal for the P-38J, think I'm going to try to do this one in OD/NG. Depends on the markings though. I'm not especially interested in doing Glacier Girl (though I have to give Academy huge props for the extensive stencils they included on the decal sheet).

In other news - hoping to officially kick the J off tomorrow morning...

Doogs, I think we crossed paths yesterday!  I went over to Hill Country Hobby, and I saw the "Glacier Girl" sitting on the counter waiting to be rung up.  Gary, the owner, had ordered me the Detail and Scale P-38 part 2, and I had stopped by to pick it up.  I really like the consignment area.  I have sold and bought quite a few kits from there.  I you want the cash for a sale, you get 80%, for store credit, he gives you 100%.  I don't think anybody ever takes the cash!  He recently started carrying MV lenses too.  I need to take my fuse/wing section by so I can match up some landing and formation lights.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Cheers,

Greg

Got one more part on order before I can start on mine.  Got some pre-made nose weights coming for it.

Vance, I'm in if you'll have me. Picked up the 1/48 Revell kit at Micheals today. Not sure which version yet. It will be OOB.

Tony

Always room Wingman, the more the merrier. It seems that quite a few of us are P-38 rookies, so we should all be learning from each other as we go!!

Vance

Well, my P-38's officially underway. Sprayed primer for the interior bits yesterday. I was hoping to shoot the cockpit with interior green last night, but ended up spending more time trying to finish up the Russians than I'd intended. They should be moving off the bench and into the display case either tonight or tomorrow at the latest, and then I imagine things will ramp up on the Lightning. Especially the Monobolt already into the filling and sanding stage (goodness that thing built fast).