South Pacific Group Build 7 August 2006 to 7 August 2007

This P-38 I'm building is pretty cool.  It's interesting how the wheel wells and landing gears are sub-assemblies, which are then inserted as an assembly into the nose and booms.  That should make it very easy for painting as I can insert those after I've painted the exterior.... at least in theory, I'll have to analyze the directions a little bit more to make sure that will work.

I should have some progress worth taking pictures of by Sunday. 

Hello Amigos, me again. 

I just wanted to let you know that Joe Rugby is passing the moderation duties for this GB over to me as life has gotten in the way of his spare time for modeling.  Hopefully things will settle down soon and he'll be able to get back into the fun with us. 

So, just wanted to let you all know.  I look forward to seeing everyone's builds! 

Not much progress yet to report.  I should have some detail work done on the cockpit in the next day or two.  Hanging wallpaper pretty much took up most of my time on Sunday... sigh.  And last night I spent a little time putting the finishing touches on my Wildcat for another GB.

Guys-  Thanks for the kind words. I've been working on cleaning up the fit at the lower fuse area, where the wing assy attaches. I'm considering attaching the small gear door pieces prior to painting as it seems that painting them separate and then attaching to a painted undercarriage would result in excessive touch-up.

NucMed-  Glad your injury was not not serious!!

Joe-  Hurry back and join us.

Scott-  Your P-38 sounds like a fun build.  Hope you hid the CA adhesive while paper hanging

JerrynFrog wrote:

Hope you hid the CA adhesive while paper hanging

LOL  I may need some CA for a couple of the seams.  I hate wallpaper  LOL

espins1 wrote:

I just wanted to let you know that Joe Rugby is passing the moderation duties for this GB over to me as life has gotten in the way of his spare time for modeling.

 Hmm... do I smell a coup in the making???? 

On my side nothing yet... I got the interior of the B-25 done just havent done anything to it in at least a month... hoping to get back into it soon but in a bit of a block...

heh heh....  Slight delay on the P-38.  With the few brief moments of modeling time I've been able to get I've been putting the finishing touches on my Wildcat.  The pace will pick up in a couple of days.

I recently finished an interesting book on the P-38, "Fork Tailed Devil" by Martin Caiden.  Good book, especially covering the development of the P-38 and its deployment in North Africa, England, Alaska and the Pacific.  I would recommend it to anyone interested in the P-38, although I've better books about other planes.  It's also a fairly quick read, inspite of it's thickness.  

I'd like to do some more reading on the P-38 so I would appreciate any book recommendations.  I'd especially like to learn more about Tommy Mcguire and the 475th Fighter Group, which was the only unit to fly the P-38 exclusively through the entire war.   

Hey guys, just checking in to see how everyone is doing.  I haven't been able to find any pictures of the P-38F "The Flying Dutchman" that I'm building, but have found others from the same unit.  I always like having an "inspiration" photo to model my aircraft after. 

While doing my research I stumbled across some info on Trumpeters 1/32 P-38 L.  It looks fantastic.  I've dropped a couple of hints regarding this kit to my wife as a possible Christmas present for me ....

I'd like to put together a build list so instead of me having to scroll through page upon page and trying to keep track of changes etc., can you all either post what you're building or sent me an e-mail or PM so I can put that together?  Thanks! 

Well, I have zero progress to report other than having obtained a few kits that would qualify. Scott I see you have taken over for Joe. Thanks. I just decided to do the Hase P-40E 1/48, (the Trumpe 1/32 F4-U is holding short) My start time will be soon I hope.  Thanks again........

gulfstreamV wrote:

Well, I have zero progress to report other than having obtained a few kits that would qualify. Scott I see you have taken over for Joe. Thanks. I just decided to do the Hase P-40E 1/48, (the Trumpe 1/32 F4-U is holding short) My start time will be soon I hope.  Thanks again........

No worries gulfstreamV.  We still have almost 10 months for this GB.  I've just barely started my P-38.  Thanks for the update.  I'm putting together a spreadsheet of all our builds and then I'll get it posted. 

Hi Scott, I am building a 1/72 Academy P-40E in an Aussie scheme. The plane is Richard Cresswell's with the four flags on the nose, based in New Guinea.

I have been worried as I read about horror stories involving Academy decals. I had spent a fair amount of time searching for AM, and finally located some from SkyModels, but they appear to be out of stock or discontinued. Much to my good fortune, at the recent IPMS meeting, one of the local hobby shops brought some items to sell, and in the box of 1/72 decals, there they were. Yipee!!.......Rather expensive, but the set will do several P-40's located all over.

I need to airbrush some enamel as an undercoat for the Tamiya acrylic, and I do that outside, but the weather has not been cooperating. Hopefully my seams are completed, but you never know.

Been windy and rainy here and the Frog hasn't been able to fly his R/C plane either, but then again, I haven't had to fix it!!

All the interior parts have been sprayed (wheel bays, cockpit).  The wheel bay doors required some fairly tedious cleanup as there was just a light line of flash all the way around including the "hinges" where they attach to the fuselage.  A little suprising considering it's a Hasegawa, but I have noticed that they tend to have a bit of flash, whereas the Tamiya kits never seem to have any.  Makes me appreciate the Tamiya kits that much more.

ollie wrote:

Is it to late to join? Im thinking of the Revell 1:32 P38.

Nope, not too late.  Welcome aboard Ollie! 

ollie wrote:

It will be a while before i can start. Ive got a few bits to finish off on other projects.

No worries, we have until August of next year. 

Well, believe it or not, I am working on Monogram's P-61 Black Widow. I've got some parts coming in from squadron which will hopefully be here before Thanksgiving. Then I plan to really get to work on it. (Really I do).

Trumpeter's 1/32 P-38 kit is nice. I got the reboxed hobbycraft kit at Hobby Lobby this past summer, get this, for a grand sum of (drum roll please) $7.00!!! Could not believe it, even had them re-check the price twice. It was 50% off but still the kit was worth a whole lot more than that.  

NucMedTech wrote:

Well, believe it or not, I am working on Monogram's P-61 Black Widow. I've got some parts coming in from squadron which will hopefully be here before Thanksgiving. Then I plan to really get to work on it. (Really I do). Trumpeter's 1/32 P-38 kit is nice. I got the reboxed hobbycraft kit at Hobby Lobby this past summer, get this, for a grand sum of (drum roll please) $7.00!!! Could not believe it, even had them re-check the price twice. It was 50% off but still the kit was worth a whole lot more than that.

7$?  Wow!!!  Nice score!!!!

NucMed- That does sound like an incredible deal. Good for you.

Everyone- I'd like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great day. Eat lots of turkey and pumpkin pie, though not at the same time

I've not accomplished much on my P-40 as the weather is not cooperating, though I have spent some time cleaning up my hobby room.

Here are a couple of update photos of the P-38F cockpit.  It's almost ready for the oil wash.  We getting ready to go see James Bond Casino Royale at the theater, so I'll do the wash this afternoon. 

I'm still trying to get the instrument decal to hunker down on the raised detail of the instrument panel.  I think maybe one more application of microso-set should do the trick as the raised detail on the IP is fairly understated. 

Scott- Looks really good.  Could you show us a pic after the oil wash? I would be interested in seeing a before/after cockpit wash. 

I didn't do a wash on mine and it looks a bit plain. Methinks, in 20-20 hindsight, the wash would really bring out details. I had considered doing a wash in a light brown color, to simulate the sandy conditions in the South Pacific.

JerrynFrog wrote:

Scott- Looks really good.  Could you show us a pic after the oil wash? I would be interested in seeing a before/after cockpit wash.  I didn't do a wash on mine and it looks a bit plain. Methinks, in 20-20 hindsight, the wash would really bring out details. I had considered doing a wash in a light brown color, to simulate the sandy conditions in the South Pacific.

Sure you bet!  I ended up going back and doing some more detail painting in the cockpit.  The Hasegawa paint directions are just flat out wrong.  I dug through all my P-38 references (as well as  Buffies Best P-38 CD set I ordered which came in the mail yesterday).  Why is it that the model manufacturers can't get the paint guides remotely close on some things?  The old mantra "Double check your references" holds true.  Oh well, no biggie.  I have a bit more wire painting to do and hope to do the oil wash later today.  I know you won't really be able to see it all once the canopy is in place, but cockpits just look soooo plain without the added attention to detail and an oil wash. 

Right now though, my daughter and I are going to go do some Christmas shopping (blech).  Hopefully it won't take too long.