P-38G Lightning: Tamiya's latest!
A long awaited kit & very much overdue as well. This one has taken me a long time to finish as I was hoping to find some aftermarket decals to make it a bit different from the OOB selection. Hannants have some expected but not yet, so I went with 'Yamamoto's downfall' & opted for 'Miss Virginia' as you can see. I found the kit simply superb; so much so that I have bought another with a couple of after market bits (instrument panels, seat belts & guns). Everything fitted perfectly, but care is needed to ensure a snug fit. The undercarriage just about rubbished my eyesight, but I persevered, & here it is. By the way, although this kit is truly excellent, it doesn't entirely put the Academy kit to shame, especially considering the significant price difference; so I'm happy to have them parked side by side. Hope you like it.
16 additional images. Click to enlarge.
That's an excellent work, Tony. Turned a great kit to a beautiful model. Painting and weathering are equally perfect. Got the "Beautiful Lass" Hasegawa to build, which is a 1993 release, not up to the standards of the new Tamiya kit.
All the best, sir!
Thank you Spiros. I still have an old Monogram P-38. I originally bought three & built them all; very good for their time, I think the 1970's.
Spiros, like Tony says he can park the Academy kit next to this, if you take your time with the Hasegawa kit, you can part it next to this also. From two feet-plus outside of the rear canopy it will be hard to say which is which if a guy like you did them both. This is not a "throw everything else away" kit. It's nice, it's very good, it solves several problems, but any competent modeler can put the others up beside it.
Thanks Tony and Tom @tcinla! Sufficiently inspired now to start "Beautiful Lass"!
Excellent job on your P-38 Tony. I really like it.
Thanks Michael. I hope to see one from you here in due course.
Well done Tony I especially like the weathering and paint job. The accolades for this kit keeps on piling up, may have to buy one after all.
Thanks Tom. Definitely...put one on your shopping list!
Beautiful job.
Thanks Charles.
Tony, excellent presentation of a well built P-38. This kit has really taken the modeling world by storm ever since it was announced early last year. The subject, the company and though not cheap, still at a price point that some still have to get one. Your summary is well done in describing your experience with the build. Love the finish and also nice touch on the rear window of the cockpit. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Chuck. This kit will amaze you with the fit & ingenuity of design. It looks like there might be other versions at some stage judging by the parts breakdown. A photo recon version would be nice.
There's supposed to be a limited-release P-38H (white box again) this summer.
Nice job, Tony!
I'm currently reading "Race of Aces" so your P-38 appearance is well timed. I'm waiting for Fundekals to release their P-38 decals before I attack mine.
Again, well done.
Thanks Gary. I'll look forward to them for my next one. (yes, I bought a second Lightning).
Great work on the '38 Tony!
Thank you Dale.
Tony, a so excellent presentation and very well built P-38.
A good inspiration to build my one in 1/72.
Thank you Roberto.
Very nice build Tony.
Since you are so enthusiastic about this kit, I put it on my wishlist as well.
Thanks John. You'll love it even more when it's on your work bench!
It was worth the wait, it looks great!
Thanks Robert. I enjoyed every minute of this build.
Great looking build Tony. I especially like the weathering, those pale exhaust stains?
Another great build Tony. Looks great!
That is a great looking P-38! Nice job on the finish and weathering!