1/32 Trumpeter P-38L 'Scat II'

[David Mooney]

 

I

I've had this kit sitting about for a while and thought i'd have ago at it, after a bit of research i found that a lot said its bit of a pig to build........and they're right. But, there is a great reward if you can pull the thing around. The fit is 'iffy' and if i built it again (which i will) i'd certainly attack it differently, but thats the learning process of modelling.

 

So here is the Trumpeter&HobbyBoss 1/32 P-38L 'Scat II'

Kit additions:

Red Fox Studio set, Aires wheels, MASTER gun set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you like it, i am quite happy with it considering how difficult it was to get made. All Comments and questions welcome 

[Tomjw]

Very nice. I have this in the stash so I'd be very interested to know what you'd do differently next time.

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

[Luka]

Cool Lightning! I wanted to build 'Scat II' as well (in 72) and your build offered me some helpful pointers Thanks much!👍

[georgeusa]

This is a beautiful Lightning.  I have the Hobbycraft version in the stash.  I, like Tom above, am interested in what you would do different the next time you build this kit.  I am just amazed at the finish you got on this kit and how well it is weathered.  Thanks for sharing.

[SAT69]

Most excellent work!

[David Mooney]

19 hours ago, Tomjw said:

Very nice. I have this in the stash so I'd be very interested to know what you'd do differently next time.

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

 

16 hours ago, georgeusa said:

This is a beautiful Lightning.  I have the Hobbycraft version in the stash.  I, like Tom above, am interested in what you would do different the next time you build this kit.  I am just amazed at the finish you got on this kit and how well it is weathered.  Thanks for sharing.

There are three big issues with this kit and many smaller ones that are easy to sort out with just filler and super glue and sanding. 

 

The canopy parts come up slightly short when assembling them, so you have to be careful with placement. I placed the rear and mid sections and then slightly re-shaped the frontal section which closed the canopy sections up but leaves a gap between the canopy and gun bay doors, this can then be filled, sanded and re-scribed and re-riveted.

 

The wing span of the P-38 is quite considerable and trumpeter didnt add any reinforcement spars to prevent the wing bending, the wings flex quite considerably when the build is finished, and that mostly because the masses of weight needed in the nose to prevent it being a tail sitter. So, when i build another i will certainly add some sort of structure working its way across from the inboard  section to the outboard. Ok, this flex might not sound like too much of an issue but the issue is that if you want the u/c to be vertical it may bow in/out at the final stages and obviously put more strain on the wing joints. 

 

The final issue is that i wanted to build the kit with the gun bays open, this is a real issue and i still dont know how you can do it and one i'd really need to test. The issue comes in the fact that the majority of the nose bay is full of ballast, i had to leave a fair few parts out to fit the weight in so currently i cant answer this one. 

 

Thank you to everyone on their kind comments 

[Pantherhawk27263]

What a stunner! That is an incredibly gorgeous P-38. Excellent work!

[Keeff]

Very, very nice!  👌 

 

Despite the problems, you've done a great job on the build and finish.  

 

Keith 😁 

[kapam]

Awesome!
None of the difficulties you struck are evident by the result!
I’m sure it’s a big beast - and heavy with all that weight in the nose.

Brilliant work!
👏👏👏

[Tomjw]

On 9/22/2023 at 9:33 AM, David Mooney said:

 

There are three big issues with this kit and many smaller ones that are easy to sort out with just filler and super glue and sanding. 

 

The canopy parts come up slightly short when assembling them, so you have to be careful with placement. I placed the rear and mid sections and then slightly re-shaped the frontal section which closed the canopy sections up but leaves a gap between the canopy and gun bay doors, this can then be filled, sanded and re-scribed and re-riveted.

 

The wing span of the P-38 is quite considerable and trumpeter didnt add any reinforcement spars to prevent the wing bending, the wings flex quite considerably when the build is finished, and that mostly because the masses of weight needed in the nose to prevent it being a tail sitter. So, when i build another i will certainly add some sort of structure working its way across from the inboard  section to the outboard. Ok, this flex might not sound like too much of an issue but the issue is that if you want the u/c to be vertical it may bow in/out at the final stages and obviously put more strain on the wing joints. 

 

The final issue is that i wanted to build the kit with the gun bays open, this is a real issue and i still dont know how you can do it and one i'd really need to test. The issue comes in the fact that the majority of the nose bay is full of ballast, i had to leave a fair few parts out to fit the weight in so currently i cant answer this one. 

 

Thank you to everyone on their kind comments 

That's really helpful, thank you.

 

Tom

[Deja Vu]

Simply beautiful, the cockpit detail is also super!