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Differences between P-38H and J


Rodders

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Hi All,

I'm going to build the Academy P38J kit 11625 but i only have a book for the early versions(The excellent MMP book on early lightnings).

Is there much difference between early and late marks of the Lightning,

Thanks for any help,

Cheers,

Rodders.

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USAAF Designations,
P-38H-1 Change to V1710-89 and -91 engines.  Provision for carrying larger bombs and fuel tank on H-1 or H-5 model.
P-38H-5 Same as P-38H-1 except for Type B-33 turbo superchargers in lieu of Type B-13, giving better altitude performance.
P-38J Same as P-38H except for a new core type intercooler.
P-38J-1 Same as the P-38J.  These 10 airplanes are prototypes and were built in the contractor's experimental shops.
P-38J-5 Similar to the prototype P-38J-1 except that these are regular production models.  Essential difference consists of several equipment changes and substitutions
P-38J-10 Similar to the P-38J-5 except has a flat bullet proof windshield and a removal aft canopy.
P-38J-15 Same as the P-38J-10 except that the electrical system has been revised.
P-38J-20 Similar to the P-38J-15 except equipped with electric Type C-2 turbo regulator controls.
P-38J-25 Similar to the P-38J-20 except equipped with a hydraulic aileron booster system.

 

The J of course introduced the deeper "chin" openings under the engine making things quite obvious.  The J-15 had the wing leading edge fuel tanks as standard, the J-25 had the dive recovery flap.

 

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As stated, the new cowling with deeper chin intakes and the flat front windscreen panel were the biggest  visible differences.

Mike

Edited by 72modeler
corrected text
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18 hours ago, 72modeler said:

As stated, the new cowling with deeper chin intakes and the flat front windscreen panel were the biggest  visible differences.

Mike

Only for late J, early with old style canopy.

 

BTW, can anyone confirm on which series were the gyrosights? In general, how many lightnings were there with gyrosights?

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On 19/06/2021 at 11:10, Geoffrey Sinclair said:

USAAF Designations,
P-38H-1 Change to V1710-89 and -91 engines.  Provision for carrying larger bombs and fuel tank on H-1 or H-5 model.
P-38H-5 Same as P-38H-1 except for Type B-33 turbo superchargers in lieu of Type B-13, giving better altitude performance.
P-38J Same as P-38H except for a new core type intercooler.
P-38J-1 Same as the P-38J.  These 10 airplanes are prototypes and were built in the contractor's experimental shops.
P-38J-5 Similar to the prototype P-38J-1 except that these are regular production models.  Essential difference consists of several equipment changes and substitutions
P-38J-10 Similar to the P-38J-5 except has a flat bullet proof windshield and a removal aft canopy.
P-38J-15 Same as the P-38J-10 except that the electrical system has been revised.
P-38J-20 Similar to the P-38J-15 except equipped with electric Type C-2 turbo regulator controls.
P-38J-25 Similar to the P-38J-20 except equipped with a hydraulic aileron booster system.

 

The J of course introduced the deeper "chin" openings under the engine making things quite obvious.  The J-15 had the wing leading edge fuel tanks as standard, the J-25 had the dive recovery flap.

 

May I ask you to give the same description from D to H?

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XP-38A engines V1710-15 Left Hand, V1710-11 Right Hand.  Single place low wing interceptor monoplane with twin boom tail, inclosed [sic] cockpit, retractable tricycle landing gear, Type B-1 turbo supercharged engines and one 25mm and four 0.50 cal guns mounted in the nose of fuselage.  Crashed at Mitchell Field 11 February 1938.


YP-38 V1710-27 and -29 engines, service test model of XP-38 with one 37mm cannon, two 0.50 cal and two 0.30 cal guns mounted in nose of fuselage.

RP-38 similar to the YP-38 except for the following: Four 0.50 cal machine guns and one 37mm cannon; armor plate for pilot; bulletproof glass windshield, camouflage finish (36 converted to P-38D) (restricted class 22 October 1942; reclassified ZRP-38)

 

XP-38A P-38 modified with pressure cabin.
P-38B Designation not assigned.
P-38C Designation not assigned.
RP-38D Similar to the P-38 except for leak proof fuel tanks, camouflage, retractable landing light and no provisions for landing flares. (restricted class 22 October 1942)
RP-38E Similar to the P-38D except for a 20mm cannon in place of 37mm.  On later airplanes radio consists of command set SCR-274N, filter equipment RC-32, microphone T-30-A. (40 converted to F-4 type for photographic use) (restricted class 22 October 1942)

 

P-38F same as the P-38E except engines V1710-49 and -53.
P-38F-1 same as P-38F except for SCR-535 and SCR-522 radio in lieu of SCR-274 and two 150 gallon droppable fuel tanks with alternative provisions for carrying bombs.
P-38F-5 Same as P-38F-1 except for minor specification changes and type A-12 oxygen equipment.
P-38F-10 Designation not assigned.
P-38F-13 Same as P-38F-5 except commercial instruments and designed to British approved Spec. No 2338, including modifications covered by contract AC-31707 to adapt the airplane for AAF use.  (Contract BR-A-242/AC-31707, for P-38F-13, F-15 and G-15, all other P-38 on AC contracts.)

 

P-38F-15 Same as P-38F-13 except for maneuvering flaps.
P-38G-1 Same as P-38F-5 except engines V-1710-51 and -55, provisions for alternative installation of SCR-274 radio, Type A-9 oxygen and autosyn instruments.
P-38G-3 Same as P-38F-5 except engines V-1710-51 and -55, B-13 supercharger provisions for alternative installation of SCR-274 radio, Type A-9 oxygen equipment.
P-38G-5 Same as P-38G-1 except for Type B-13 turbine supercharger in lieu of Type B-2 and resistance instruments.
P-38G-10 Same as P-38G-5 except G-5 and G-6 starters in lieu of F-1 and F-2 starters and A-12 oxygen equipment.  (140 redesignated F-5A-10 for photographic use)
P-38G-15 Same as P-38F-15 except engines V1710-51 and -55.

 

Wing: full cantilever design with center section built around a double web box spar at 35% MAC, an outer panel around a modified single web "Wagner" type spar.  A rear beam is installed to complete the wing torsion structure.  Covering of butt jointed flush riveted aluminum.
Fuselage: Pilot gondola of stiffened monococque design fabricated from aluminum alloy.  Forward booms of semi monocoque design of aluminum alloy construction except in area of turbos where stainless steel is employed to resist heat.  Aft booms of semi monocoque aluminum construction.
Empennage: Horizontal tail consists of two aluminum alloy sheer beams supported, as partially fixed ended beams, from tail booms.  Vertical fin is a full cantilever multiple sheer web structure rigidly attached to tail booms.  Empennage covered with flush riveted aluminum alloy.

 

P-38K-1 Prototype only, similar to the P-38J-1 except V1710-75 and -77 engines, 12 feet 6 inch propellers in place of 11 feet 6 inches.
P-38L-1 Similar to the P-38J-25 except V1710-111 and -113 engines
P-38L-5 Similar to the P-38L-1 except that tank mounted fuel booster pumps and pressurized droppable fuel tank system are installed.

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