1/48 Academy P-38L “Pathfinder”
I have a tendency to build kits during the winter months as it's tough to get the model mojo working when the weather is nice outside. This Academy kit is the latest off my bench, and one of the P-38 variances you don't see that often. It's the usual Academy P-38, some nice things going for it and some fit issues to overcome as well. Mainly the Pathfinder nose and its fit to the main fuselage. There is no detail supplied for the navigator/bombardier position, so I searched the web to obtain some info on that position. The spares box provided the seat and the radar scope. Not exact but close.
Paint was a combination of Model Master acrylics and Tamiya gloss aluminum and silver leaf. The kit recommends painting the lower fuselage in black. However,I couldn't find a single photo of a Pathfinder painted that way on the web. Therefore, I didn't finish her with the black undercarriage. I added an Ultracast seat and Eduard Brassin wheels. Which by the way, those wheels are really nice. Decals used were a combination of the kits as well as some from the spares box. Nylon thread was used for the antenna wire. Definitely not a show winner but you reach a point where it's time to say she's done. Next up is a Accurate Miniatures P-51A. They're a lot easier to build IMHO.
Great looking P-38 Tom!
Thanks Dale
Very nice Tom! You're right - don't see these built up that much. That bulbous nose just seems to take some of the sting out of the fork-tailed devil! Fun to see one!
Thanks Greg
Nice, and different P-38! Looking forward to your Allison Mustang.
Working on that P-51A now Robert.
Really nice, Tom. A real rare bird indeed.
One minor thing, easily fixed, the P-38's lid is not on hydraulics like a jet canopy, it swings back more than 90 degrees, held in position by a wire from the front edge of the lid to the top edge of the windscreen, sort of the way the sideways-hinging 109 canopy works..
Thanks Tom.
Nice one Tom. Certainly not one we see all the time.
“I’d like an office with a window, please.”
And it's an ugly office as well.
Tom, I always enjoy something you don't see all the time, especially when its done nice like this !
Thanks Terry
Very good looking Lightning. Your comment about not being a contest winner but needing to say it's done very much resonates! I figure if it pleases me when I see it on my shelf, it was worth the effort.
I frequently get to a point where a model transitions from my most recent object of enthusiasm to "oh, this damned thing"... from fun to PITA. However, I must say that modelers continuing to raise the bar is a great thing.
Cheers!
Stan lots of my models end this way. Always intend on building the perfect model but realism does set in along the way.
Beautiful Pathfinder Lightning, Tom. Yours is a great miniature of what has to be the homeliest P-38 model.
Not a real beauty for sure.
Another excellent build from the Bebout factory... This version of the Lightning reminds me of Jimmy Durante...
Well done my friend !
'liked"
Louis you have to be over 50 to know who was Jimmy Durante. And you know I think your right about the resemblance.
Nicely done and as you said, rarely seen
Hey Tom, Interesting version and nicely done!