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Richard Bungay
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Tamiya 1/48 P-38J-15 Lightning, LO Major Richard I. Bong

August 7, 2022 · in Aviation · · 12 · 1.9K

See all my models at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98961263@N00/albums/72157603606379755

Photograpy: Nikon D300; Focus Stacking using Helicon Focus; Editing using LightRoom

Paint: Various shades of Alclad

Aftermarket: Air Masters gun barrels (AM-48-023); Ultracast resin seat (48223)

Decals: Kit and Peddinghaus

Much has been written about the first release of this kit so I won’t describe the kit other than to say it is among the best kits I’ve ever built. It went together without problems and very fast compared to the Hasegawa/Promodeler kit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/98961263@N00/albums/72157719752473921) which is also a fine kit but more challenging.

Comments welcome,

Richard

Reader reactions:
13  Awesome

3 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. Looks very nice Richard. Having done two of the earlier ones, it really is a kit you have to work hard and plan for in order to mess it up.

  2. Richard, Really looks nice and its nice to see a different version of one of Richard Bongs rides, and "yes" this is a very nice kit. I just finished an H version and had a great time with the build.

  3. Fantastic result, Richard!

  4. Well-done P-38, Richard. The Alclad paint came out awesome! I use Alclad on my afterburners and on a F-86 I recently built, found the product pretty easy to work with. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Spectacular result Richard, Im working on my own P-38 at the moment (vintage Monogram circa 1966) and plan to build the Tamiya in my stash soon. Your work is an inspiration! Well done

  6. Legendary pilot, tamiya P-38 is a beautiful model, and you got maximum from it.
    NMF looks excellent.
    Regards
    Djordje

  7. Great result, Richard @rbungay
    Well done

  8. An awesome build!

  9. Looks great - really like this scheme for something different! Well done.

  10. Looks great, Richard!

  11. That is some really Lovely work... I'm looking forwards to getting at least 1 of those myself. I have a set of markings for Bong's J model "Down Beat" which he flew when attached to 5th AF Fighter Command as a kind of "Travelling Top Gun Coach". It has a nice green trim, similar to the red trim on Marge with a set of Musical notes on the nose. (I already have the Tamiya F/G and H kits as well as a few Academy and Hasegawa P-38s.)

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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