P-38 Lightning canopy question

[John B (Sc)]

Hello all.

 

I have been puzzling over the canopy opening arrangement of the P-38 Lightning, an aircraft I have never had a really close up look at. I know the central canopy section hinges up and back.

Do the side sections beneath that slide down vertically into recesses in the fuselage - the two rectangular sections which appear to be cross braced lightly with diagonal wires ?

 

If so, that would explain why there seems to be a heavier metal section across their tops, to provide a handhold and presumably an internal latch fore and aft.

 

Any information welcomed ! 

 

John B

[Black Knight]

Some had the side panel attached to the top panel and the two lifted and hinged to the right

 

Some did have the side panels drop down

[gingerbob]

John, you described it perfectly.  The "hinged to the right" is only on early models (I don't remember exactly when it changed).

[dov]

The two side windows are like for a car or old railway car. Exactly that way. With big letters NO STEP.

I saw a late version from inside the cockpit in real.

Happy modelling 

[John B (Sc)]

Thanks all. I wondered what the writing was on the top edge, -thanks dov.

 

To me this is part of the fun of modelling, finding out odd things about aeroplanes - with the help of friends on sites like this !

 

 

Cheers,

John B