Introduction.

My first post here on iModeler and I’ve really enjoyed the relaxed and supportive attitude (and amazing skills) on show from the members. I’ve a real thing for 1/32 scale WW2 planes, and thought I’d share my latest attempt as I blow the comfort zone completely. Following the modeling equivalent of a full body massage by a team of expert Geisha (my last two kits were the tamiya/hasegawa 1/32 Mossie and Dora), I thought it was time to pay some dues and get down and dirty with a real old dog of a kit.

First, bit of a tease (if anyone is actually reading…)

This is a kit from the seventies and by all accounts is a bit of a horror. However, I have always loved the subject and the variation here is unusual. If anyone can name the plane from this initial attempt at a scratch build quadrant and the fledgeling cockpit (see photos) then I’ll know that my geek side has truly found its spiritual home with you guys.

The yoke kind of gives it away, and if not then the cockpit will.

More to follow...

So the quadrant expands to the port side of the cockpit and lots more scratch building. At the moment I’m also working on the rest of the cockpit (the base kit is just devoid of any detail despite the size of it). My wife marvels at how a grown man can sit whittling away at tiny pieces of plastic, and I admit to feeling a bit unhinged at times. But it is fun…isn’t it? Really?

Spent some of last night spraying the cockpit (this kit is just ghastly) as the Curtiss Helldivers shot king Kong off the Empire State building on TV. With a bottle of hobgoblin. Just great.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

David, given the level of effort so far, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished model. First rate! It is easier to put detail where there is none, than to hack away at poorly done or incorrect stuff. Or judicious application of the dremel tool, hoping not to drill or burn thru the piece.

David, I don't believe I've ever seen an interior view of the nose "compartment" in the droop snoot. Could the occupant sit? Or did they recruit from redundant ball turret gunners?
I always thought the radar operator in the P-38M had it bad.
Looks like you'll be charting fresh trails
A General in the CBI used one as his personal runabout. Supposedly, he had a thermos holder up in the nose, so I figure someone else did the driving.

So, some dry fitting shows some resemblance to a P38 - but as you'll see it's going to take some work to make her walk the talk. In fact, I've seen one or two comparisons with this kit and original plans that are very favourable - the main reason i'm taking this kit on, despite the fit problems (pic 3) and lack of detail.

Despite the moaning (or maybe because of it) I'm having a great time with this kit. So far...

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Yes, think you'd need to be good with small spaces - and not very tall. But then, you think about five guys crammed into a Sherman, and it'd start to seem roomy.

I've been trying to dry fit a little more, and you can see (in the first photo) that there's hardly a parallel line on this model. The geometry is all over the place and it's taken some serious beer time getting the angles even remotely bent into shape. The cockpit fits snuggly in, but there's really ugly gaps between the pit walls and the fuselage (seen clearly in pic 2).

Although the kit actually has a reasonable V12 Allison (port side only) I'm going to button it up in an effort to engage some time off the building phase - I think this kit owes me that - to get on to the painting. That is, after I've used up about a year's of milliput...

After a long wrestle, I was able to get some reasonable lines and some symmetry and glue it up, but god, it was a job.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

David, it looks like it's coming together nicely. Particularly with what you had to work with. Revell and Hasegawa led the way with 32nd, other than some Japanese kits in odd scales of the same time.

I believe that the original, older kits deserve to be built and seen as a history of the hobby, and appreciated for the trailblazers they were, rather than being shrugged off or judged by todays standards. None of the things we take for granted were available, back then. It's amazing how far we've come as a hobby, no matter how the "experts" P and M.

David, I remember the same thing, saving so I could get this kit or that. The box art of the time was (in retrospect) a mixed bag. Revells I thought was way above most of the other guys. Auroras WW I boxes were also interesting. Not particularly realistic, but striking.

That wooden seat in the nose must have been a joy. Almost as much fun as the Pacific P-38 that had a fuel tank with the nose cut off, and a plastic cap on the end, to carry a photographer. On the shackle under the wing. He could recline, but I'd be worried about the toggle switch in the cockpit, myself.

One of the pleasant surprises is how accurate the landing gear is; considering at the time this kit popped out of the moulds, James Hunt was world champion, the Ford Capri was 'cool', and inflation was running at 24%. And I was being told in school that in 2017 we'd all be driving flying cars and working a two day week.
So, seeing some progress and waiting for some lead ballast to arrive from evil bay to try and avoid the tailsitter problem.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.