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Lightning F5E (P38J) Instrument panel sun protector(?)


DOD

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Greeting all,

I hope someone could help me as I work on my Lightning F5E (Lanakila, out of Mount Farm, UK 1944). Academy 1/48th.

The model has a fabric cover over the instrument panel. I believe I have read somewhere that this was a removable item and was not used much in the European Theatre. I do not know the official name for it either.

Is that the case? If so was it a pilot or unit decision? If it is there what was it made of and what colour was it?

I have had a look at some photos where I can and some aircraft do seem to have one and some not.

My particular concern, of course, is with this particular aircraft. I have a photo here and I feel that there is not a cover present, though it is not clear.

Any opinions would be helpful (though I think it would look better without the cover!).

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Many thanks

David

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I wanted to help you but you've made me realise just how very little I know about it!  😬  I'm pretty sure it's called a coaming and is made from canvas of some sort.  It's a handy shortcut to obscure a poorly-detailed OOTB instrument panel.  Or if you have a very nice IP you could leave it off but then you'd probably want to detail the reverse side of the IP, as it is visible through the windscreen.

 

I'm to the primer stage on an Academy P-38 at the moment.  The Eduard colour etch set I have for it included a part to replicate the coaming; I traced it onto paper and cut that out to use instead.  PVA was used to apply it and add some stiffness to the paper.  I painted it an ambiguous khaki-ish colour which could be a green faded by high-altitude UV light or just a dirty tan, same as I used on my big Tamiya P-38.  I don't know what the proper colour was, but I suspect there may have been several depending on available stocks.

 

Judging from your photo, the cover should be somewhat visible from that angle and as it isn't I suspect Lanakila (sp?) didn't have it installed on that day.  If you want to make one, it shouldn't be too hard to cut-and-fit some paper.

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IIRC, it's called an instrument panel shroud; on some aircraft it is a metal inverted 'u' that prevents glare in daytime and also makes instruments easier to read when illuminated at night. On P-51's, it is metal; on P-47's it is a canvas shroud that can be pulled out or  retracted. On the P-38, I think it can be either a canvas shroud or a  metal shroud, depending upon the variant. Maybe these will help, but none are of a PR P-38, Hopefully they will be of some use.

Mike

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/749286456756802915/

 

Scroll 'way down to see a color photo of the removablr canvas shroud on a P-38L.

https://www.largescaleplanes.com/reviews/review.php?rid=925

 

This photo appears to show only the fixed shroud.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/20266267043155301/

 

P-38G

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lockheed_P-38G_cockpit_looking_in_from_right_wing_061019-F-1234P-003.jpg

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos/igphoto/2000539760/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549368854527887551/visual-search/

 

P-38J/L

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/424675439854632873/

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/lockheed-p-38j-10-lo-lightning/nasm_A19600295000

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Thanks guys for taking the time to reply.

Jackson,

I have an Aires cockpit set and is pretty well detailed so do not really want to cover it up. However, if it does need a shroud (thanks for the terminology Mike!) I like your idea of making from paper. Lanakila is, I believe, Hawaiian for Victory, triumph. It's amazing the things you find out!

Mike,

A lot of useful cockpit shots here that I have not seen before, thanks.

Cheers guys.

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9 hours ago, BS_w said:

 

 

Lockheed called it "glare shield",
on all p38 models, material was canvas black dyed

Thanks for detail clarification. 

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