Update - Main painting completed with a few touch ups required. I have since masked the canopy and will spray that separately next day or so.
All going well should start the decals by end of the week.

A few notes for next Tamiya P-38 - spray the OG first and then the NG. Easier to get the airbrush into tight spots - the P-38 is an awkward plane to paint...
Use dark brown for the main preshade rather than black / rubber black etc - did this on the drop tanks and like the way they turned out.
Happy Modelling!

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Pre-shading looks awesome. I am really looking forward to the final product. You carry mass production to a new level! I have trouble keeping track of one kit, much less eight.

Hi Everyone

Been AWOL last few months and I have made progress on the Tamiya P-38F, hopefully all done by New Year! It is a great kit and plan a few more going forward, and especially keen if someone does a decent recon conversion for this kit...

9 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Forgot to add - Tamiya forgot the SRC-522-A antenna mast under the nose. I added mine from the spares box. No marks deducted for this minor oversight...

Darren,

You've really brought out the best in this kit. It's inspirational and I've picked up a kit as a result . I will be using your build as a reference. I really like how you have painted the tires and have used several colors to give them some better definition. My only niggle would be to tone down the treads with a mat varnish. To better give the impression of weight and the dull flat colors tires have. This is very esoteric and something you'd put in the round cabinet. But, other than that this kit is a "Goldilocks build" or a OMG build suitable for hard copy.
Two thumbs up. Three thumbs if I could find the third.

Hi Stephen,
Yes the tyres have since been toned down, the pics above highlighted that to me !
I have run some Mig "Subtle Dust" filter into them and would recommended this product highly, as it is very "subtle" as the name suggests... I am nearly done, just a few little bits to go and will meet my 2019 deadline.

It does happen not as often as the dirt on the treads.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.