P-38 in 1/48. 4 times Eduard and 1 Tamiya kits. 3 versions from the PTO and 1 version from the MTO and one version from the ETO

[dov]

The P-38 in 1/48 scale will be my next project.

 

For this I will use the Eduard kits

 

https://www.eduard.com/Eduard/Plastic-kits/Limited-edition/Aircraft/1-48/Pacific-Lightnings-1-48.html

 

https://www.eduard.com/Eduard/Plastic-kits/Limited-edition/Aircraft/1-48/P-38F-G-H-Early-Lightnings-1-48.html

 

Together with this kits I use

 

https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/ref/kag/book_kag_15033.shtml

 

My intention is to build the P-38

 

• P-38G, 42-2197, 80 FS/8 FG, 3, Dobodura, New Guinea, 1943/44, 'Nulli Secundus / X-Virgin'
• P-38L, 44-26176, 36 FS/8 FG, A, le Shima, 1945, 'Vagrant Virgin'

 

I will start on Monday.

 

Happy modelling

Edited March 4, 2024 by dov
Number of kits, will be doubled

[IIBSWAT]

Very interesting choices, particularly Nulli Secundus, as it was very battered and weathered, even by Pacific P-38 standards! 

 

You might have it, but worth picking up the Kagero P-38 Lighting at War Part 2, it's a thin book but has some really great inspirational profiles, including both the P-38s you are going to build. (I think these are excellent little books and I have both parts for the P-38).

 

Good luck with the builds!

 

 

[dov]

@IIBSWAT, yes I have this books. Bought it in Krakau at the musem!

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

 

At day ONE I was cutting brasin and glueing my booms. Including wheelbay. The nose also and it got a heavy leed weight.

The brasin parts I tried to try fit them with Tamiya masking self ahesive strips to get a clue about the correct position for installation.

After reworking the center front plastic part several times, I could lay away my kit for the night.

My conclusion was: It should fit, we will see.

 

Now I am on day TWO of my build.

What happened?

Lots. First of all the embarassing contact with the instruction. Countrary to the origin of instruction from Acadamy, Eduard choose the paper saving way.

It is nothing to say about this intention, but the Eduard instruction became so a Eduard confusion.

Many parts, specially right and left boom parts with all together, you have no, absolute no idea what you are doing.

This matter caused a strong anger about such an thing.

 

The next issue are the brasin parts. The quality is split. In cast and material property.

Exact edeges are often bigger radii, so that you can later on not use an oil wash. It would ruin the cockpit.

The location of the finished cockpit is a mystery. I do not know it even now. It just stucks where it is, and I used CA to get it in a proper position.

 

I used the finished cockpit, the lower half of center section and put upper center section on top of it. Pushed it backward.

Afterward I used the center section of plastic, which also takes the windscreen later on.

Here I had to push the cockpit even more rearward, not to interfere with the front panel.

Trial and Error.

 

Since my excellent ability to switch my personal thinking to the thoughts of a person which is unable to draw or tell or write his thoughts, I could understand what I had to expect.

One landmine after the next with fuses on! Yes, this is the build.

So I thought I became fastidious after my 5 Thunderbolts, but I also did not find any report about one build kit of the P-38 from Eduard.

My wife became scared, when she saw this errors one after the next. So, her two kits found in a few seconds afterward the way into my stash!

Happyness and tears at the same time. I could not resist and will take the burden to build 4 kits in summery!

Take a look on my doing, just TWO days from the start.

At the beginning of day TWO, I knew that there are only two choices: Report to my thread or it goes to the wastebasket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I pushed the cockpit in correct position!

 

 

After I pushed the cockpit in correct position and glued it with CA in correct position. The word correct is here a derision, since I do not know it, just I think it!

 

 

 

Here an excellent example for this kit. The 3 tiny pairs of stencils for the radio equipment are scattered all over the decal sheet!

It's like someone selling a product to deliberately annoy the customer.

 

 

 

Happy modelling

 

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

Now after grinding the center fuselage and filling it and polishing it, I went to assemble the aircraft.

Before I improofed my surface treatment on the booms a little bit.

All shortcomings I mentioned yesterday are comunicated with Eduard Help Desk.

I will keep you informed!

Here you may see it:

 

 

 

My decission of the other two versions to da I also made:

 

P-38L, 44-26568, 36 FS/8 FG, W, le Shima, 1945, 'Wicked Woman' from the Kagero booklet

and from Exito Decals #48009 this one:

 

 

The Exito decal sheet and instruction are superb! Highly recomended.

This are to my opinion good choices.

I am eager to finish this week my first P-38!

Next week the second one. And so on....

We will see.

 

Happy modelling

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

Today I sprayed the P-38 G. It was an uneventful job.

 

 

 

 

The surfaces are in OD and neutral grey.

Shading and weathering was done.

Weathering with salt to get some chipped areas around the filler caps for fuel and the entry and exit area of the cockpit.

Shading in a brighter color, darker color for some areas and blending down again with base color to achieve a good result.

Of corse the personal markings in green and white are also sprayed. 

At the end a gloss varnish was sprayed.

Tomorrow I will decal and stencil the aircraft.

Then you will get some photos, to see what it is.

 

Happy modelling

[Gruntpa]

This is a gorgeous build and am waiting to see the final photos. Details on the resin cockpit are amazing.

[dov]

Hallo

Now I will show you my paintjob. It is not completly finished, since the black weathering all over will be done after stenceling is complete.

You see, that markings are on, also the personal markings.

Stencils are still under way.

 

 

Here the hings were made of 0,3mm brass wire.

The other options are just two plastic hings or a filigran option from Eduard.

At my very first Lightning 20 years ago, the doors soon came off!

So make it better!

 

 

 

 

 

Surface chipping with Aluminium color C8 and salt.

If you practice the salt version so obey:

The excess water must be dipped off very soon, otherwise you get a salt cake and a big alu area.

If you want tiny one, the salt cristals stick very soon with a smal amount of water.

Excess water I dipped with the edge of a paper handkerchief easily.

 

 

 

 

Happy modelling

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

This model is now completed and finished.

To mention is, that most kits and decal sheets do not suply the elipsse mirror on the inner nacelle!

I made it with metal foil.

Lots of lead was added into the nose and it proofed right so.

The assemebly with the bullet proofed glas and revi is a horror!

Just praying!

 

Just to see: 

More in RFI section please

 

 

My present project is the Babe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far I got today with my second Lightning.

The other versions will be as an L version the two Eduard kits of the late one:

 

 

 

 

 

The Tamiya kit will be one of this two.

The J version and L veerion I like both of them.

The Italien version is more colorful!

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

So far my project.

 

Happy modelling

 

 

 

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

This is day 3 of my second P-38.

The interior, the cockpit is finished.

In meantime the central fuselage is glued with the cockpit installed.

Due to the learnig process out of my errors on the build #1, it became much better now!

Have a look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy modelling

 

 

 

 

[dov]

Hallo

The paint job with weathering by airbrush is done in the first step.

Now, after decaling the individual markings, I am on stenceling.

This takes much more time now.

I use dry transfer.

With decals it is a swift job.

Not so here now.

After a long time the first time again.

With Gunze H colors I had troubles, since the surface is too soft to apply the dry transfer.

Here now with Gunze C colors it works well.

So far today, more tomorrow....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy modelling

 

 

 

 

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

I got it.

Finished my Babe.

 

 

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

 

Now I am on #1175 Eduard kit with Academy plastic.

Oh my goodess! This instruction is the worst one on earth!

The landing light in the instruction is omitted!

BTW: Until today I got no reply at all from Eduard, about their excellent instructions.

Now, I started plastic work only, to get things prepared for later on etched parts.

The wheelbay doors got hings, from 0,3mm brass wire.

Next day a little further.

I have to reduce modelling speed, since I should learn my 3000 Kanji!

 

Happy modelling

[marvinneko]

You're cranking through these. Do you really feel so intensely while building or is it for our entertainment? 

 

Nice stencils... wish I had some for my Ventura!

[dov]

@marvinneko, it is all real. I am going to Japan 10th times now, next month.

P.S. : for more interest request mail!

Japanese modelling was always a paradise. The P-38 from PTO, from japanese islands, are my memory...for this evil times in history!

Happy modelling 

[Guest]

On 14/03/2024 at 07:47, dov said:

Hallo

 

I got it.

Finished my Babe.

 

 

Happy modelling

She looks veny nice, good job!!

[dov]

Hallo

Now my Vagrant Virgin is on the way.

At Saturday I made plastic work. Today Brasin work only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

Now, this P-38 L is now a big step further.

The aircraft is complete and sprayed. Decaled and stenciled.

The small parts are prepared, but unpainted.

This will stay so for a while of one month.

Then again I have time to continue and finish this model.

 

Here you may follow the process:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

After a long break I am here again.

The break was due to the fact that I was in Japan.

 

So, after I returned I had some work to do and completed now this model. The next P-38 is on the way.

More in my RFI section.

 

 

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

 

Now after a while I am back.

My last Eduard P-38 is finished.

More you find in my RFI section.

 

 

Now I work on my next P-38 J from Tamiya.

If it will be this one or another one, I am not sure yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working on the Tamiya kit, is in comaparison to the Acadamy Eduard kit, a different world.

A fully different world.

 

Happy modelling

 

[dov]

Hallo

 

First time in my 30+ years modelling life, this happened!

Replacement ordered. It takes up to 8 weeks from now!

So be patient!

 

 

 

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

 

Good news! The replacement for my broken clear front part arrived today.

So, the P-38 will be finished after my present project P-39 inj 1/32 from KH is done!

 

Happy modelling

[Thom216]

Great news. Loving these builds and schemes, esp Vivacious Virgin II! 

Between the two, Acadmy/Eduard, which do you like best?

[dov]

Oh, the best of ALL is Tamiya.

The Eduard / Acadamy: Eduard downgraded the instruction to that point of frustration. The kit needs lot of grinding.

Eduard has some geometrical problems (since years) with trigonometric functions.

So the headrest for the L version you can forget!

Grinding: So much, that I got a real pain in my left hand! This is the absolut LIMIT, so I was really happy when I finished my last of the 4.

Since I model a lot, the quanity of harsh handwork, by pressing and holding I must limit!

Tamiya is a joy!

Happy modelling

[dov]

Hallo

I finished my Vivacious Virgin II. Built from the Tamiya kit.

In countrary to the past Eduard kits, I can sum up:

The built, the assembly is a joy!

The stencils used from the kit, you all can read!

All parts from the kit & instruction fit and are informative described!

Is there more to say?

 

 

More, in my RFI.

The WIP of the P-38 is now closed!

 

Happy modelling