LOCKHEED P-38 H-5 LIGHTING, 1;48 Limited Edition by Tamiya, BobW

[oneslim]

Part 1

 

 

This is a build of Tamiya's new P-38H-5.  The kit is the second P-38 released this year.  First was the P-38F/G back at the beginning of the year.  I have one of those that I was going to modify into a G model.  When this kit was announced in March I put in a pre-order.   It didn't show up until the middle of August.

 

I have wanted a early model of the Lighting for a very long time,  Just love the sleek lines.  When Lockheed moved the Inter-Coolers from the leading edges of the wings to the lower nacelle in the J and L models it spoiled the smooth lines of the air frame.

 

The subject will be Tommy McGuire's PUDGY II, His second P-38 of five He flew in the 475th FG 431st FS.  McGuire was the second highest Ace of WWII with 38 Kills.

 

The Kit Sprues: A

 

Sprue B

 

Sprue C

 

Sprue Dx2

 

Sprue F

 

Sprue G

 

Sprue J

 

Instruction booklet

 

Color decal placement

 

Decal placement 2

 

Instructions

 

Kit Decals

 

Aftermarket Decals

 

Color Profile

 

 

More to Come,

BobW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Canute]

Very cool aircraft. They flew a donated J model to McGuire back in the 80s. It's in NMF and stored flyable. It comes off the pedestal every few years to get a cleaning and have the engines run. It's painted up as Pudgy ?, McGuire's mount when he was shot down.

[oneslim]

Thanks for the "Likes"

 

Canute,

I've seen the mounted PUDGY V ( L model ) many times,  only about an hour's drive from home.  My Dad and I would go to the annual air show.  McGuire Died in a borrowed P-38 L, He was fearful that a silver PUDGY V would scare off any targets.  The guess is it was scraped in theater.

 

BobW

[Canute]

Bob, wasn't sure of the model. Thanks for the update. I was in the Air National Guard at McGuire flying F-4s and later KC-135s. About 18 years. Moved to western NC back in 2009.

[Roger Pellett]

Another P-38 Ace, Richard Bong was a native of Poplar, Wisconsin  not far from Duluth, MN where I live.  For many years a P-38 was displayed outside in a Poplar town park.  About 20 years ago it was trucked to the Minnesota Air Guard’s 148th fighter squadron base at the Duluth Airport and restored.

 

The plane is now the featured display in the Richard Bong Veterans Museum in Superior, Wisconsin across the St Louis River from Duluth.  It is a “silver” plane.

 

Roger

[Old Collingwood]

Wasn't there a scale metal kit of this to build  in the same scale?

 

OC.

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Wasn't there a scale metal kit of this to build  in the same scale?

 

OC.

Airforce 1 does a 1/48 diecast of Pudgy IV

 

But I believe they are the only one, I do know of a few modelers that have scratch built in aluminium sheet at around 1/32nd scale but usually metal is 1/72nd or smaller....

[Old Collingwood]

16 minutes ago, Egilman said:

Airforce 1 does a 1/48 diecast of Pudgy IV

 

But I believe they are the only one, I do know of a few modelers that have scratch built in aluminium sheet at around 1/32nd scale but usually metal is 1/72nd or smaller....

Thanks bro,   I'm sure it was a kit   - a friend  past me over one some years ago  - but I can't remember.

 

OC.

[oneslim]

Part 2

 

I am using a 'Eduard Brassin" P-38 G Resin and Photo etch Cockpit set. 

 

This is the floor with a forward bulkhead and aft one.  The oval opening in the floor is for the front wheel when it is retracted.  The cockpit is a tub with no frame work protruding in.  Wheel bay is it's own tub.

 

 

This is the port sidewall.  The round object near the center is the cover for the hand crank mechanism to roll the side canopy up & down just like a car.  Side canopy windows were always closed during flight because if down would cause tail buffeting.  The large area to the right is the engines control stand.

 

This is the port sidewall.  It has three radio tuners at top center.  The boxes below the tuners are switches and radio filters.

 

A sideview of the pilot seat.

 

This is a view of a restored F model.

 

This shot is of an late H model  with the side canopy rolled down.  It also has an updated radio system. The rear canopy glass was removed to service the radios.  Notice also the thick armored glass with the head pad and bracket at the bottom.

 

 

More to Come

 

BobW

[Canute]

Does the kit come with a weight or give you an idea of how much you will need to prevent this becoming a tail-sitter. It's too nice to need a prop of some kind in the tail area. Some of the newer kits come with a weight for the cockpit area.

[oneslim]

Canute,

 

Yes,  the kit comes with three chrome steel 1/2" balls.  One for the nose and two for the engines.  I'll show how they are 'trapped' when I get there.

 

BobW

[Canute]

Interesting. Like I said above, I have a Tamiya He219 Uhu in 1/48 scale. Tamiya includes a shaped insert to put the cockpit section inside and wrap the fuselage skin around.

[oneslim]

Part 3

 

This is the floor and bulkheads.  The black tube snaking over the oval hole is a pilot's relief tube.  It would be just under the seat with in easy reach.

The exit was a small metal tube under the fuse.  The green curled tube is the  pilot's oxygen supply. 

 

Port side of the cockpit tub.  The engines control stand has two levers for the Throttle, Richness,  Props angle,  and Props feathering.

 

This is the starboard side showing Radio Tuners and their wiring.  The lever at the top under the wire to the control column is the flap control.

 

A note about colors.  Lockheed had a large contract for hundreds of Hudson bombers for the RAF.  The RAF had strict paint specs which Lockheed had to adhere to.  So Lockheed set up a deal to get large amounts of RAF specked paint made in the US.  Lockheed requested permission of the US Air Corps to use paint on hand for P-38s.  They agreed.  So in the cockpit RAF Cockpit Gray Green was used.  The upper surfaces were RAF Dark Green,  and the lower surfaces were RAF Medium Sea Gray.  This continued until the silver J models.  This explains why early P-38s look different in black and white, and color photos from other US planes.

 

More to come,

 

BobW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by oneslim

[Old Collingwood]

Looking really good.

 

OC.

[mtaylor]

There's a detail one doesn't normally see in a model... a pilot's relief tube.

[oneslim]

Thanks for the comments and 'LIKES".

 

Mark, I found it on a drawing from this site:

 

https://aircorpslibrary.com/

 

The first month is free.  I joined and was able to print quite a few drawings for only 5 bucks a month.  They have all the major fighters and bombers of WWII.  One can quit at any time.  Never have seen a site like it.

 

BobW

[popeye the sailor]

nice start Bob......I've wanted to get one of these kits.   the Germans had a plane like this that I've been interested in as well     welcome to Plastiland! 

[Roger Pellett]

Bob,  that’s a fascinating site that you posted.  It’s very tempting to head down that that rabbit hole.

 

Roger

[oneslim]

Roger,  It sure is,  I must have looked at 10,000 drawings of the P-38.

 

Thanks for the 'LIKES".

 

More to come

 

BobW 

[mtaylor]

On 10/28/2020 at 10:01 AM, Roger Pellett said:

Bob,  that’s a fascinating site that you posted.  It’s very tempting to head down that that rabbit hole.

 

Roger

That is a tempting rabbit hole.  I think I need to force myself to stay away... might just get buried in it.

[oneslim]

Part 4

 

Thanks for the 'LIKES',  and the great comments.

 

This is the bottom of the nose section with the 1/2" chrome steel ball as nose weight.  Held in place with white glue so it dose not rattle around.

Shown is the main spar that sets the dihedral.  It has the nose gear bay attached.  Notice the bulge that protrudes into the cockpit floor,  This is for the nose wheel when retracted. 

Here

Here is the belly pan with the spar and nose gear bay attached.  The ball weight also is seen.

 

This is a test fit of the top and bottom of the fuse.  The silver on the inner wing is Bare Metal Foil.  This was a high wear area because the pilot and maintance people would  climb up to this area to enter the cockpit or do work via the self storing ladder to the rear.  

This is the cockpit tub.  The wires are for the radios on the shelf behind the pilot.

Here is the radio rack.  The fine wire is the radio antena leadin,  which passes through the rear canopy.

 

And here is the pilot seat.  The back cushon was made from paper and thin plastic stock.  The decal was home made and states 'US AIR CORPS".

 

More to Come

 

BobW

 

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2020 by oneslim

[Old Collingwood]

Great work Bob - Really First Class.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

That is possibly one of the most detailed and amazing cockpits I have ever seen Bob!

[oneslim]

Thank You for the Nice comments Gentlemen.

 

BobW

[Canute]

Dang, that is one busy cockpit, with the assorted panels you've got in there. Nicely done! 👍

[popeye the sailor]

interesting detail...cockpit looks really nice.   I'm looking at the jigs your using to paint these parts.....do you make them as you go along,  or are they universal enough to use them on other models too?  it's a great idea.........I get tired of painting parts on tweezers,  or sticking them on pins....really disheartening when they go flying  

[Charles Green]

RE: Roger Pellet

My Dad watched Bong in action in the sky over New Guinea.  Bong had 40 confirmed kills.  His strategy was to get close, then get closer.  To reduce the P-38s turn radius he developed the skill/technique of goosing the out-board engine while retarding the in-board engine.  After 40 kills, he was taken out of action and put to work promoting the sale of war bonds; the military figured he was more valuable that way.

 

And for anyone interested in P-38s, you have to read The Lost Squadron by David Hayes.  The book describes the incredible recovery of one of six  P-38Fs that ditched in 1942 in Greenland while on the way to Europe.  Two accompanying B-17Es ditched as well.  All of the men were recovered but the aircraft stayed.  In the early 1980's, recovery of one of the P-38s began - by that time, all of the aircraft were buried under 260 of ice!  The P-38 is flying now under the name of Glacier Girl.    

[Roger Pellett]

Charles,

 

The Duluth Aerial Bridge crosses the ship canal into the Duluth Harbor.  It is what I would describe as a Guillotine type lift bridge.  During Bong’s tour of the US he supposedly flew a plane under the bridge span.  I don’t know if it was in the up or the down position. 

 

He he was killed shortly after the war flying as a test pilot.  His widow, since remarried, was instrumental in getting the local P-38 restored and the veterans museum where it is displayed established.

 

Roger

[Egilman]

The maneuver was called the "Lockheed Stomp", it also involved dropping the flap on the side of the retarded engine, you could almost rotate the plane in the air.... (the p-38 had individually actuated flaps which could be used as airbrakes) They would also use the individual flaps to increase roll rate for sharper/faster turns.....

 

The P-38 was an amazing aircraft, way ahead of it's time.....

 

Dick Bong almost became a Bombardier, he had a problem in air to air gunnery and almost failed it in advanced flight school..... he could not get the idea of converging bullet streams and a ring reticle lead computing gunsight.... A great pilot, he barely passed gunnery training...... (by his own words he was a bad shot)

 

The P-38 solved his problem.... 

 

The army wanted to ship both him and MaGuire back home after 38 victories feeling that the risk was too great at losing them for their propaganda value, Bong refused and threatened to resign, but agreed to stop flying combat.... (he became a gunnery instructor of all things) But he would take up aircraft on his own from time to time... and there was two sets of gun camera films that showed that he got two more making his total 40 and the brass (Gen. Kenny) had enough and ordered him home...... 

 

I would say not bad for a guy who claimed he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in a fighter aircraft......

 

A great pilot, it's a shame we lost him the way we did....

Edited November 3, 2020 by Egilman

[oneslim]

Popeye,

I make them as I go along.  They are held together with double stick 3M tape.  They can be used over and over, changing them to fit.  Some are scrape  boxwood, and also 1/4" plywood from a hobby shop.

 

Charles, 

I read the The Lost Squadron years ago.  The newish book  Aces High by Bill Yenne (ISBN 978-0-425-23230-9), is a bio of both Dick Bong and Tommy McGuire. It covers their war history and their race to be the top scorer.  Gen, Kenny let Bong freelance for the the last year, while McGuire  was tied down as CO of 431st FS.  McGuire was also grounded while Bong was on His way back to the US. 

 

Roger,

The Duluth Aerial Bridge story is in the same book.

 

BobW

 

Edited November 4, 2020 by oneslim