I wish I could sit in a Spitfire cockpit. They'd probably have to pry me out of it. Sounds like a good day, all around.

It's an odd thing this hobby...

“It was as if the working of his head had stripped the main screw that held his life together. The screw wouldn’t go in or come out; it just turned without biting on anything, always in the same hole, and he couldn’t stop it turning.” (War and Peace).

Sometimes a kit just gets in your head. I find myself talking to a friend and some kind of sub-programme in my brain is thinking, 'could I use the foil from a wine bottle to simulate flashing around the nose of the lighting?' As the quote above illustrates, it's a fine line between passion and obsession.

Anyway, navigator access attached, a blending coat of Alclad white aluminium sprayed, and canopy masked and painted.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Like a lot of people, I'm a real s****r for an invasion stripe. It's not only that they look great, it's what they represent in terms of courage, liberatIon, unity, and just doing the right thing in the face of overwhelming odds.

So next up will be some matt cote, weathering and a pair of spinners. Oh, and if anyone has a set of 1/32 stars and bars decals (I have the decals by kagero - P38 lightning at war - but no stars) I'd gratefully put them to great use!

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Thanks, Greg. I really like the Lightning, it has such a beautiful shape and a great history through the entire war, in every theatre. I remember making a 1/72 P38 when I was about 11 years old, hanging it by cotton thread from the ceiling attacking an Me 262. Those two planes were the last things I saw at night for about two years. Well, those and the enormous poster of Debbie Harry from Blondie. But that's another story...

Hi, Bernard. Always happy to help out a city boy. The ballast for the engine nacelles is lead shot, specifically made for slingshots. Or what we limeys call a catapult.

Happy trails, city slicker.

David,
Beer is your friend! But beware ...
I am SOOO envious that you were able to sit in a real Spit! Like my friend Bernie, I'm sure they would have to pry me out. At gunpoint. (As if my bulk would fit in a Spitfire!)
Your P-38 Droop Snoot looks great! I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Lightning. (Not to mention a few other fabulous "Twins" of that era: the F7F, Beaufighter, & Mossie.)

You mentioned squeezing 5 in a Sherman. You're right, but many don't realize how small the inside of some of the modern tanks are. When I played tankity-tank we had 4 in an M1A1 (Heavy) tank. Not much room at all, considering the outside dimensions. Also, I have personally been one of 14 in the turret of an M60A1! Louis Gardner will appreciate that! 14 in an M60 is a lot like putting 10 or 14 in a Mini or a phonebooth! It's hard to do. Why do it? It started pouring rain & the M60 was close! I'll leave the rest of the story for another time & place! LoL Great memories!

Back to YOUR awesome P38. You've done a great job & I applaud you!

Cheers!

Thanks, David! They look like they might prove useful to hold down some aircrafts nose.