Tamiya Lockheed p-38 F/G Lightning 1/48

[Ron2]

I sorta started this kit a while back. Basically just primed and painted a few pieces. Trying to get everything off my bench and this is one I've been putting off. This was a much smaller plane than I realized because at 1/48 I feel like I'm building a 1/72. Here's the cockpit.

 

[BarleyBop]

Wow, is that the kit 'office' as @Dan the Modeler is fond of saying?
I've the Tamiya P-38J in the stash...

 

[Ron2]

Wow, is that the kit 'office' as @Dan the Modeler is fond of saying?
I've the Tamiya P-38J in the stash...

Yes, except I accidentally installed the wrong gauge cluster and had to pull that one! Haha.

 

[Edbert]

I built the J version of that kit in 2024 shortly after picking up the hobby again.

Masterful engineering from Mr. T!

 

[Ron2]

I built the J version of that kit in 2024 shortly after picking up the hobby again.

Masterful engineering from Mr. T!

It is going together quite nicely. Did you do ladder up or down?

 

[Edbert]

It is going together quite nicely. Did you do ladder up or down?

Down, canopy open too.

https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/tamiya-p-38j-marge-123.15699/

 

[Ron2]

Down, canopy open too.

https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/tamiya-p-38j-marge-123.15699/

Nice build! A couple of questions. Did you use aftermarket decals for cockpit? Those look way better than mine. You put the cockpit together and then paint it? That seems much more difficult. I think the color scheme for mine is different. It shows OD for top. I'll have to look into that more. I do like doing bare metal finishes! I am planning on ladder down and canopy open as well. I really need to figure out how I'm going to display my models. Right now I have four sitting on my desk because my bookshelves are full, my dresser is full, and my wife is holding fast to only 5 models in the dining room! Haha. Maybe I need to do a purge and get rid of some of my first models. I do like having them to compare and measure my progress.

 

[Edbert]

That kit is straight outta the box. I assume there were changes made to cockpit details from the early version to the late war one.

The first pic is just a dry-fit, checking things out, notice the blue tape holding it together?

For sure the late war birds were more often bare metal, saved time, cost, and weight. The USAAF did this in the ETO and PTO, although I do not think the USN did it, probably due to corrosion protection on carriers.

 

[Ron2]

That kit is straight outta the box. I assume there were changes made to cockpit details from the early version to the late war one.

The first pic is just a dry-fit, checking things out, notice the blue tape holding it together?

For sure the late war birds were more often bare metal, saved time, cost, and weight. The USAAF did this in the ETO and PTO, although I do not think the USN did it, probably due to corrosion protection on carriers.

Yeah mine is earlier and I'm probably going to go with a pacific version. I have to look and see what decals were provided. I'm surprised the gauge decals were not as nice on this kit. Maybe it was operator error.

 

[Edbert]

It is surprising, maybe being three years newer made the difference? The one shown below with that seal/emblem on the box is the metallic plastic version.

 

[Ron2]

It is surprising, maybe being three years newer made the difference? The one shown below with that seal/emblem on the box is the metallic plastic version.

View attachment 195066

Nope. Had more to do with my eyes and not taking a better picture. These decals are good.

 

[Ron2]

A little bit of progress. Going together like a Tamiya kit.

 

[Ron2]

This kit goes together like a hand in a glove. Landing gear bays.

 

[Ron2]

Funny, I kept putting this build off because it seemed overwhelming but this has gone together better than any other kit I've done. Seems like it would be difficult to mess it up.

 

[Edbert]

gone together better than any other kit I've done

Truly among the best kits ever! Other common nominees are also recent Tamiya items; 1/48 F-4 Phantom, 1/32 F4-U Corsair. I've built all three and cannot choose the best, once they are "that" good I have little to add.

 

[Bear43]

Seems like it would be difficult to mess it up.

Uh.... hold my beer....

 

[BarleyBop]

among the best kits ever

...the irony of this kind of statement: as your skills improve (and there's plenty of evidence of that), even the worst kits get easier!

 

[Ron2]

Truly among the best kits ever! Other common nominees are also recent Tamiya items; 1/48 F-4 Phantom, 1/32 F4-U Corsair. I've built all three and cannot choose the best, once they are "that" good I have little to add.

I've been wanting to do an f4 I'll try Tamiya this time.

 

[Glenn S]

Funny, I kept putting this build off because it seemed overwhelming but this has gone together better than any other kit I've done. Seems like it would be difficult to mess it up.

That kit has a good amount of detail!

 

[BarleyBop]

...the irony of this kind of statement: as your skills improve (and there's plenty of evidence of that), even the worst kits get easier!

... but the paradox is that your expectations also rise and the challenges you take on are greater, so you end up back where you started...

 

[Ron2]

That kit has a good amount of detail!

This is a great kit and I'm already wishing I could do another so I could do it better! Haha.

 

[Ron2]

Didn't get too far with this one today but some weathering and details added to cockpit. Almost ready to button it up. For the seatbelt, I affixed the decal to a thin sheet of lead I use for seatbelts and straps.

 

[Glenn S]

Didn't get too far with this one today but some weathering and details added to cockpit. Almost ready to button it up. For the seatbelt, I affixed the decal to a thin sheet of lead I use for seatbelts and straps.

Looking good!
For the seatbelts, did you flatten lead solder, or have a sheet of lead?
Also, how did you paint the seatbelts? Did you use a primer before the final coat? Does the paint peel off the lead when you manipulate it into position?

 

[Ron2]

Looking good!
For the seatbelts, did you flatten lead solder, or have a sheet of lead?
Also, how did you paint the seatbelts? Did you use a primer before the final coat? Does the paint peel off the lead when you manipulate it into position?

I purchased a very thin sheet of lead. It's easy to work with, cuts with exacto knife and can be used to make straps etc, at times I don't bother painting it. It does paint fine but tends to flake off if manipulated too much, so then I'll just touch it up. I didn't paint the seatbelts those are the decals applied to the lead sheet and then I cut the seatbelt away form the lead sheet.

 

[Glenn S]

I purchased a very thin sheet of lead. It's easy to work with, cuts with exacto knife and can be used to make straps etc, at times I don't bother painting it. It does paint fine but tends to flake off if manipulated too much, so then I'll just touch it up. I didn't paint the seatbelts those are the decals applied to the lead sheet and then I cut the seatbelt away form the lead sheet.

Thank you for getting back to me. Where can you buy thin sheets of lead?

 

[Ron2]

Thank you for getting back to me. Where can you buy thin sheets of lead?

Amazon has them. I'll look tonight to see what thickness I bought. I just checked and they have 1/16" which is what I think I have. It was a 12x12 piece and I've had it over a year and maybe have used an inch of it.

 

[Edbert]

Thank you for getting back to me. Where can you buy thin sheets of lead?

This is a lifetime supply, FYI.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/146311530706

 

[Glenn S]

This is a lifetime supply, FYI.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/146311530706

Dental bite wings?

 

[Edbert]

Dental bite wings?

It is x-ray film, long ago expired. But in each pack is a thin sheet of lead "foil" that is perfect for 1/48 seatbelts, or wraps around landing gear to hold a brake line or...whatever.