P-38 GB

I finished up my Revell Droop Snoot.

Here it is with the Academy F-5 and the Hasegawa P-38J

Nice stable of Lightnings you have there.  It reminds me of my goal of one day building all four versions from the R/M kit and displaying them.

I saw your post in the A/C forum and I have to agree with you about this kit, even with it's headaches it is a fun kit.  Your droop is a good example of what can be done with one.

Welcome back to the hobby.

I'm not the moderator of this GB But I would think as long as its a P-38 it should be okay.

JMart wrote:

Greetings... newbie here, back to the hobby ... building first kit in 30 years (Revell P51D 1:48), which Im trying to put in the Revell GB... my other open kit is the Revell 1:48 P-38J kit. Only progress so far has been filling in ejector holes (sp?) and priming of parts . Could I join this GB? Complete novice here, but having fun and learning... Thanks!

Sure you can, sorry for delay in replying but I've been at Disney with the family.

David

NucMedTech, ww2modeler - Thanks for the welcome; (David) hope you enjoyed DW, been there done that couple times!

I already have couple questions... upon reading some background info on the Revell kit and looking at the parts, seems I am in for some sanding/fitting "practice" (which is fine!). However, I was just given the 1/48 MONOGRAM PRO MODELER P-38F/G/H LIGHTNING kit... should I start with that one instead? (I took a 30 year break from modeling... newbie basically!).

Also.. the wheels look a tad large? Off scale?

Thanks, Jim

JMart wrote:

NucMedTech, ww2modeler - Thanks for the welcome; (David) hope you enjoyed DW, been there done that couple times! I already have couple questions... upon reading some background info on the Revell kit and looking at the parts, seems I am in for some sanding/fitting "practice" (which is fine!). However, I was just given the 1/48 MONOGRAM PRO MODELER P-38F/G/H LIGHTNING kit... should I start with that one instead? (I took a 30 year break from modeling... newbie basically!). Also.. the wheels look a tad large? Off scale? Thanks, Jim

I'm sure a couple of others will help me out on this, personally I'd start out with the revell kit, learn from it, make mistakes and practice some skills such as filling, sanding, airbrushing (if you have one), and weathering. Then if you goof, it will be on the worse kit so that you won't make that mistake on the Pro Modeler one.

Just my advice,

David

JMart-
I am in the final stages of the Revell P-38.  I have done this one several times as different variants and it is the same kit every time.  The nose can be a challenge (I sanded completely and rescribbed this time).  The booms are hit or miss but even when they hit some work is needed to hide the joints.  I had problems with the canopy more this time but that is partially due to the M that I am building (I was off a little bit when fitting the rear cockpit) but the canopy is a bit off as well.

If you keep the shortcommings of the kit in mind when you build it, you can make a pretty good three footer for sure.  I am certianly no master modeler my self.  I don't get to build often enough to retain much of what I learn on each kit but my models do seem to be better than they were 20 years ago (Yes, I have been building for that long, 30 really, and I am still a hack but it is always fun).

Just have fun whichever you build and it will be the best model that you have built so far. 

Thanks for the info... I decided on the 1/48 Revell-Monogram Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Kit #5479- Bong's Marge Option. Not very original, but plenty info out there... seems I will get my "learning" bit on the sanding/fitting part! I look forward to this, I love the plane lines... here is some background info I dug up during my preliminary research, my apologies if this is "old news" in here, can't think of anything else i can contribute at the momment! :)

Kit Reviews:http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/usaaf/p-38j_48.htm

Dick Bong's brief bio blurbs

http://www.bongheritagecenter.org/dickbong/

http://p38assn.org/aces/dick-bong.htm

Wild Bill" Boyd  http://www.p38.com/

Museums with P-38s - http://home.golden.net/~dclass/devils/38museum/p38musem.html

http://www.americanwings.org/aircraft1.htm

Basic plane info:http://www.bongheritagecenter.org/p38/?trigger=about_us

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38registry/p38registry.html

Photo Databases

http://www.p38.com/images2.cfm

http://www.48thfs.org/    - Click on PHOTO GALLERY; second panel from the top

http://www.1stfighter.org/photos/photos.html  - Includes NOSE ART section and VIDEOS section

http://home.golden.net/~dclass/devils/

http://www.p38assn.org/gallery.htm  - includes COCKPIT views and COLOR pics

http://www.475thfghf.org/nose_art_1.htm - 2 pages of NOSE ART

http://www.projectlightning.org/ - click on PROPAGANDA tab to see war-era as posters... click on VIDEOS too

Helllooo, Anybody still here? Well its been about a month since anyone has posted anything and we slipped down to the third page in the forums. Fortunately I have completed the In my Stash GB and I'm now able to give full attention to my P-38. So here is what I've been able to accomplish this weekend.

I have to go to H-L to get some brass sheets and then I'll try to open the nacelles so you can see the engines.

Man I'm glad to see your right there with me NucMedTech. This kit is a real monster. Progress seems to be measured in weeks instead of days. I have been moving along with my build alot slow than most reguardless of the size and complexity. I have fallen under the spell of a beautifull woman and have my modeling time has been substantially cut into. {I'm not complaning believe me!} I still am trying to keep my commitment to this group build and have made some good progress on this monster of a kit. A word of advice there NucMedTech. Take all of the photo etch hinges and toss them in the garbage glue the control surfaces in the desired position. They do not allow the control surfaces to fit properly and they just hang limp in the hinges. I though about posing the flaps in the down position but I can not find any pictures of parked p-38's with the flaps deployed. So I am gluing mine in the up position. Here are a couple of pics. Lets not let this GB fall by the way side. I will try to post more pics even if the progress is small. Here are a couple of pics.

                                                               Soulcrusher

Yes that is another sore spot on this kit. The pilots seat is riddled with ejector pin markings than are not easily filled. The seat belts are not included in the photo etch either, just the buckles so the have to be scratch made. There are also pour stubs on the inside of the wing cavity where the control surfaces are suppose to fit they are very hard to remove without damaging the cavity because they are on the inside of the curve. If you do  not remove them completly they will not allow the control surfaces to fit flush in the cavity. The cooler housings on the booms do not even come close to fitting. I thinned them out as much as I could but they still did not sit flush. The are also do not fit very well in the cut outs on the boom for them. I plan on just filling it all in with putty and sanding all down until the seams are gone. Unfortunalty all of the rivet detail will be history. So far the only high spot is the cockpit. It is very nicely detail and the fit is pretty good. I am determend to finish this big boy even with all of its flaws. The huge size of the kit will probally draw alot of attention away from its shortcomings. I'm going to try and fit the outer wing panels tonight. I will post some more pics when I finish with this.

                                                               Soulcrusher

Well not much done this weekend. I got some brass sheet from H-L and I'm currently working on making the framing. First attempt was pretty good but I had to much space between the rivet holes. Will try again this weekend. Hopefully I'll get it right and be able to post some more pics.

Is it too late to get into this GB?

I am not sure of the dates.

Thanks 

Its from July 15, 07 until August 15, 08. Late comers are welcome.

Those two lightning look great so far! Keep us updated with progress.

David

Thanks David.

I will be building a Hasegawa 1/48 P-47J.

Edit: That should have read Hasegawa 1/48 P-38J.

MikeV wrote:

Thanks David. I will be building a Hasegawa 1/48 P-47J.

Sorry, the build is only for P-38s (I hope you made a typo)

David

ww2modeler wrote:

MikeV wrote: Thanks David. I will be building a Hasegawa 1/48 P-47J.   Sorry, the build is only for P-38s (I hope you made a typo) David

Oops! My bad. I meant a Hasegawa P-38J.

I have P-47s on the brain.  

This will be my first P-38 since I was a kid and built the Revell 1/32 scale one.

I'll add you to the list.

David

Just what we need to bring this group build back to life. Some new blood. I might actually have some time to work on my 1/32 Trumpeter tomorrow. I will post some pics if I make any progress.

                                                                 Soulcrusher

ww2modeler wrote:

15.MikeV-1/72 Hasegawa P-38J

David,

I am building the 1/48 scale P-38J, not the 1/72 

Sorry bout that, I'll edit it now.

David