CMK F-4A-1 Recon Lightning Conversion Set (4398 for Tamiya) 1:48

[Mike]

F-4A-1 Recon Lightning Conversion Set (4398 for Tamiya)

1:48 CMK by Special Hobby

 

 

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a fast aircraft, and when stripped of unnecessary weight and combat equipment it was faster still.  Lockheed developed the F-4 as a reconnaissance airframe with a new nose to house the cameras where the guns had been, plus the necessary controls and avionics to perform the task.  The F-4A was a P-38F conversion, with only 20 airframes made, and was later replaced by the F-5, which was based on the improved P-38G with several hundred of various updated versions made.

 

The Set

This set arrives in one of CMK’s yellow card boxes, with six grey resin parts on four casting blocks, four clear resin parts for the camera windows, a sheet of decals and even some masks for the camera windows.  The two largest parts make up the new nose, which entails cutting a small section from the two fuselage nacelle parts, which are shown in green on the accompanying instructions.  Before gluing the new nose in place, the window apertures should be de-flashed and the crystal-clear resin windows glued in place, then the nose cone added.  Later in the build a small antenna is fitted to a pit on the upper nose behind the faired over gun troughs.  Inside the cockpit is a new more rounded control yoke, and an instrument to fit inside the coaming.  Another yoke is included on the casting block, but this is unused.

 

 

 

Markings

There were only 20 of the type made, with two on the decal sheet. 

 

• F-4A-1-LO RAAF service with No.1 Sqn PRU RAAF at Coomalie Creek in the Northern Territory of Australia, where it stayed from February to December 1943 until it belly-landed at Batchelor, Northern Territory.  The pilot escaped from the aircraft, but it was heavily damaged by fire, with the decision made to render it to parts by the repair unit. 
• F-4A-1 Sn.41-2156 “Limping Lizzie” 8th Photo Recon Squadron, 6th PRG, 5th AF, Port Moresby, 1943.  It was worn out and probably scrapped sometime in 1944.

 

 

 

 

The decals are well-printed with good register, sharpness and colour density, and you will need to complete the decals with the kit supplied stencils, as this set includes only the national markings and individualisations.

 

Conclusion

An interesting set that will fill a gap in the market that will either be missed by Tamiya, or arrive sometime before the heat-death of the universe knowing their glacial release schedule.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of