Chuck (@uscusn), once again I have the popcorn ready, am strapped in, leaned back and looking forward to the show! I have encountered P38's twice when I lived in Greenland - first time I met a flying example at Sonderstrom AB, and got to pat it. . - the second time I was to get to the icecap to see the "Glacier Girl" being hoisted up from under the ice, but the DASH-7 that was to take me popped the fuses on number three, and after resetting on the second try it caught fire. Alas, I came a week late but at least I got to see it being loaded onto a ship for the journey to the States, and the rest is history.

Sorry to clutter your build like this - guess it is just such a memorable plane? Bring it on!

Chuck, @uscusn
this is going to be an epic build. I have started a build journal that has multiple aircraft types in it, several months to possibly even a year ago. It was the Operation Vengeance Yamamoto mission, and I’m sure that you remember it, because you were very kind and sent me one of these new tool P-38’s shortly after they were released. I started a bunch of different A6M’s, Two Tamiya G4M Betty bombers and then added two of these spectacular Tamiya P-38’s, partly in thanks to your kindness.

Now I can build both the P-38’s that were originally credited with downing the Yamamoto Betty until just recently when forensics conclusively determined it was only one pilot who could have downed the Admiral... Even so, I have plans to build both Lanphier’s and Barber’s P-38’s.

It is a great pleasure to see you start building your P-38. Your recent 3D decal article for these P-38's instrument panel was a good one, and it will be nice to see how this turns out.

Sign me up for watching this one too, and if I can assist you in any way, with color documentation etc., please let me know, as I have a lot of documentation on this stuff.

Erik, @airbum
That’s an amazing picture of Glacier Girl you posted. You’re a lucky man to have actually been there to see her shortly after she was raised from under the ice. Those colors are remarkably intact and that’s one of the best pictures I’ve seen of her in her original state.

This is going to be fun !

Once I finish my projects that have a deadline then I’ll most likely merge my Operation Vengeance builds over to the Empire of Japan group.

Wow, what a fantastic start, Chuck @uscusn!

The Tamiya kit rocks! Got the "Beautiful Lass" Hasegawa one to build, I love it, going to build it, but, honestly, the Tamiya is ahead!

Nice 3D decals! I think we will see them more and more often to the future.

I will follow this bulld with excitement, being sure that I will be rewarded with an excellent model and anequally excellent "tutorialized" thread!

Will definitely follow this thread, Chuck.
I am also still looking for a nice Lightning and your build might convince me on this one.

Eric, so true how preserved the Lightning was despite being under all that ice. Reading about how difficult was to salvage Glacier Girl. Great story. And you have one great artifact.

John, the Tam Lightning I think you will really like in every way. Get one and build it. Or you can wait to what's next as the "H" is the next release from Tamiya, and hopefully a J or L soon. But I'm hoping for a recon variant maybe.

First off pre-painting the interior components before starting work on the cockpit. This is not Interior Green, that color appears in later variants. This is a mixture of Zinc Chromate Green and a bit of Yellow to get this shade to match the pics that appear on "Glacier Girl. Reading Dana Bell's references also helps to confirm this for this version I am building.

First will start with the Instrument panel. I am building the "F" version so choosing option "B" for the correct panel to use, as Tamiya provides both instrument panels and they are different.

The panel from Tamiya has great details and the option to place decals over the dials and gauges.

As reported will use the new Quinta Studio interior set for this build, as shown with the excellent instrument panel.

The IP that is unique to the P-38 is well detailed using this set from Quinta Studio.

Next to assemble the cockpit.

The floor is a bit different in how the Hasegawa and Academy kit is represented. Tamiya has a hole in the middle of the floor where the nose gear bay hump will protrude through the floor when assembled. Nice touch.

The rear lower bulkhead panel is installed, center console and pump lever.

The side panels are decaled with the new pieces that fit very well for the electrical boxes gauges.

The cockpit floor is enhanced as well.

All the parts ready to assemble the cockpit.

After attaching the LH side panel wall, next is to install the control column.

The control column is painted and also has its own Quinta detail applied. Attached to the cockpit floor and the steering wheel is Gloss Black.

Now the RH side panel is attached, have to say Tamiya's parts lock into place, no fuss and no way to misalign any parts when attaching each piece.

Finally the instrument is installed in place and the cockpit is finished.

Next is to build the seat. More to follow.

Fantastic cockpit, Chuck! You've done a wonderful job so far.
I love the Quinta stuff!

Hi Eric, yes there line is expanding with good coverage and looking forward to what they will produce in the future.

Thanks Spiros, I'm impressed with this set and how easy it is to apply and durability as well. They are quite secure on the part once they set. Unlike PE that can just pop off at times with handling, sanding etc.

Thanks John, it does seem to "pop" a bit more with the Quinta details a bit more than the PE. I'm not going to quit using the zoom sets. Price is competitive with PE so that won't be an issue. May just come down to availability as a project is about to start in which medium to use.