PK-118 Lockheed P-38L Lightning

[drdjp11]

Well, here goes another...

 

After getting swept up in the madness that is the Matchbox 50th Anniversary GB, I found this that filled a gap.

 

So here we go. I won't be starting this one right away, but I wanted to get the build thread established.

 

Top opening box, and single colour plastic. Can this really be Matchbox?

 

[Pete in Lincs]

The dreaded silver plastic! Beware the swirls, my Son, Beware! (Runs off, cackling)

[drdjp11]

9 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said:

The dreaded silver plastic! Beware the swirls, my Son, Beware! (Runs off, cackling)

 

Do tell. Some plastics are definitely harder to work with, but is there something in particular about this Matchbox silver plastic? Poor glue or paint adhesion? 

[Pete in Lincs]

Just silver plastic in general. I was thinking mostly old Revell/Monogram and Airfix kits. The swirls were sometimes visible through the paint!

Matchbox kits were of a different generation/time, so I hope you should be okay.

[John]

I built the Revell boxing of the Mystère IV in the last Matchbox GB and it was moulded in what looks like the same silver plastic:

 

MIVA4 by John Walker, on Flickr

 

Swirly!

 

I don't remember the plastic causing any particular problems. The fit, on the other hand,...😱

 

John

[drdjp11]

I have a 1950’s classic moulding of the Chance-Vought Cutlass in the same (but a more modern plastic from the ancient moulds) that I’ll be entering in the classic Revellogram GB later. It seemed ok, so fingers crossed.

[JOCKNEY]

Nice of Matchbox to mould the Lightning in NMF plastic, think of the savings in paint 

 

Best of luck

 

cheers Pat

[drdjp11]

Started assembling some of the major components and decided the cockpit was just too bare. Nothing suitable available, so I'm scratch building a few bits and pieces. Got it mostly put together and need it to dry and harden before final shaping to the interior contours.

 

I'll add few boxes and bits and bobs once done, but happy with the general representation.

 

[bigbadbadge]

Nice start, looking forward to this, recently completed an RS models P322-1 Lightning,  which was fun.

Chris

[drdjp11]

Here's the cockpit with some primer and starter colour.

 

[JOCKNEY]

Looking great 

 

Cheers Pat

[drdjp11]

Rotating progress on different builds. A bit of Lightning today.

 

A little light scratch building in the cockpit - bulkhead and some equipment boxes and an instrument panel. Just hints, really, but fun to do.

 

 

And the underside of the center section

 

 

The fit so far is pretty good - not a lot of filler required.

[drdjp11]

Of the "some assembly required", some assembly has been completed.

 

As I suspected, all of the joins make for some tricky alignment, especially as the alignment of the joints is a bit vague.

 

[GREG DESTEC]

Sure looks like a P-38 to me🙂

 

Nice work 👍

[bigbadbadge]

Agreed, certainly does. Cracking work. 

Chris

[JOCKNEY]

I have to agree with Greg and Chris, looks like this one is coming along really nicely 

Cheers Pat 

[drdjp11]

Used some Mr Surfacer 1200 black as a primer. A few seams popped out as needing some further work:

 

 

I'm using the AK grey filler, which is vastly superior in smoothness to the Tamiya white I had been using.

 

[bigbadbadge]

Should look very impressive once your paint goes on . Do like the look of these Aircraft.

Chris

[Rabbit Leader]

Great to see this P-38 taking shape. Certain scribes don’t exactly rate this Matchbox kit highly, however its looking quite good and will now doubt be as good as what effort any modeller is prepared to put into it. Looks great from here and you’re doing a credible job so far. 

Cheers.. Dave 

[drdjp11]

2 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Great to see this P-38 taking shape. Certain scribes don’t exactly rate this Matchbox kit highly, however its looking quite good and will now doubt be as good as what effort any modeller is prepared to put into it. Looks great from here and you’re doing a credible job so far. 

Cheers.. Dave 

I didn’t exactly love having six wing joins to align and fill instead of two. Then there’s top and bottom for twelve! 
 

I'm beginning to think that rigging the real thing might have been a bit on the tricky side.

[drdjp11]

2 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Great to see this P-38 taking shape. Certain scribes don’t exactly rate this Matchbox kit highly, however its looking quite good and will now doubt be as good as what effort any modeller is prepared to put into it. Looks great from here and you’re doing a credible job so far. 

Cheers.. Dave 

And it does look pretty badass in the black primer. 

[drdjp11]

Here's a few looks at the resanded and sprayed Lightning, with it's little brother the Fiat G91 getting a sneak peek.

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by drdjp11

[drdjp11]

Tidied up a few seams, just needs a little touch up in the cockpit, landing gear set up and start on the basic metal finish.

 

[bigbadbadge]

Getting there, such an impressive looking machine.

Chris

[drdjp11]

Rotating back to the Lightning a bit today.

 

A light coat of Alclad Polished Aluminium. I love the way the bare metal shines on the black primer. Unfortunately, still a few areas to tidy up - bare metal is an unforgiving finish.

 

And after another coat or two...