Tamiya P-38G Lightning "Miss Virginia"
Tamiya's P-38 is without a doubt the best engineered 1/48 scale model I've ever built. It is simply clever in every respect. I started this model about a year and a half ago and since I started I've completed six other projects. It was the first model I started after a long absence from the hobby. My initial intent was to get my feet wet again and simply build the kit straight from the box, clean with no real weathering. Well...after getting into it and seeing the many fine examples of this kit built by other fine modelers I vacillated on how it should look. Long story short, the finish is kind of between something clean and what the actual aircraft looked like, heavily weathered in the South Pacific. The only weakness of the kit (and the only aftermarket parts used) were the gun barrels which I replaced. Nothing else was added including seat belts which I admit would add to the model. I enjoyed this build tremendously and have two others in my stash and three P-38J's pre-ordered so I'll be revisiting this fine kit again and hopefully doing it the justice it deserves.
Happy Modeling!
http://www.mercenarymodels.com
Truely an absolute gem, Joe @mercenarymodels
Everything on this build looks amazing.
I agree with the superb engineering from Tamiya, making this kit a real pleasure to build.
Phenomenal result- I plan on starting this kit over the summer and hope it can come close to yours! Well done!
This is amazing!
Nice !
Amazing result, Joe!
Impressive build and great pictures.
I think you underestimate yourself, sir. You have already "done justice" to the kit. This looks excellent and I do not think it is "under-weathered" at all.
"Liked" (a lot!)
Simply...SUPERB! Well done, Joe. Love the look of the paint job.
Nicely done Joe, she's one good looking bird.
Very nicely done. Your paint work looks especially good.
Fantastic-looking fork-tailed devil! Well done!
Well done, I like it a lot!
Hello Joe, that's an outstanding build of the Tamiya P-38...very nicely done.
Excellent work here Joe. And so are the rest of your builds on your Mercenary Models website. Extremely professional looking, every one of them.
I can only repeat all the previous comments, Joe. It's just superb! Two points deserving particular mention: Your super smooth paint finish and the excellent photography. Impressive doesn't cover it!
Love the very subtle fading on the top-surfaces. Excellent build, Joe.
G'day Joe (@mercenarymodels),
Superb!