This session will install the gear doors. Starting with the nose gear door.

The door is made up of two pieces, the inner panel and the outer door.

The retraction actuator is then installed towards LH rear side wall of the bay.

What is really nice is 3 perfect contact points on the door which are the hinges and slip firmly into place over the nose bay. This door should never fall off.

The drop tanks have been painted and will install later in the build.

Next is to assemble the main gear doors. Inner outer panels and retraction actuators.

The large location tabs slip into a slot on each side of the wheel bays, perfect fit, cement optional, the fit is that good.

The wheels have also been installed at this time as well.

Finally the pitot tube is mounted under the LH lower wing panel.

Next up some more weathering, and install the props.

More to follow.

Getting closer to the final stages, Chuck @uscusn
What I remember from this kit is that nearly all parts can be mounted with cement as an option.
The fitting is so great that parts almost click in position.

Thanks Spiros, this kit from the start is something special. And being a popular subject helps.
True John, many of the parts could simply be snapped in place. The fit is that good. The engineering is perfect. Probably the most parts in any Tamiya kit too date without being over engineered. The Tomcat which is a bit more complicated in nature will have quite a bit more.
Get one George, you will not be disappointed.

Now to assemble the props. They have been painted Black and the tips painted yellow. Though Tamiya does have decals for the tips of the blades. The props have been gloss coated with Future.

Decals applied, they are handed so careful to pay attention to install the props to the correct side.

While the props set I paint install the step ladder to the pod.

Vallejo Flat Clear Acrylic is airbrushed over the props. The Tamiya decals worked out well.

The clever design of the spinner consists of 3 base parts and then the cone. The base of the spinner are 3 separate parts that fit between the three blades.

The 3 pieces fit perfect in place on the prop hub. Nice details look really nice on each piece.

Once the base of the spinner are installed, the poly cap is inserted into the prop hub.

Then the spinner cone is installed.

The spinner is overall Olive Drab. Then both props are then attached to the Lightning. Spinning freely on the polycaps.

She looks almost ready to go.

Finally the the counter weight over the rear center horizontal stab.

next up, some exhaust staining and install the gun barrels in the nose.

more to follow

Great progress, my friend @uscusn. Love the props hub base!
Almost passed the finish line.

That's really coming together very nicely, Chuck. This is a kit that lets the modeler concentrate on all the things that lead to excellence in the final result.

The grand finale! The kit guns are ok, but brass gun barrels by Master are an excellent upgrade. This small detail of guns with ends hollowed out in this scale really adds that bit of enhancement of an already excellent model.

So carefully opened the baggie to get each barrel out, some to insert the jacket so minor assembly is required, but really a simple process to install them. Starting with the center cannon. And the RH outer barrel.

Not every model I will do this, but on a prominent gun placement such as on the P-38 it really is a good way to go. I will most likely do the same on the Invader.

Once the brass barrels are installed, let them set over night before painting them Gun Metal. Using Vallejo Acrylic to do so.

Now the last bit of weathering is the exhaust trail left over the top of the booms. Using Tamiya Deck Tan I first apply a light coat of smoke and then over spray the Light Tan over the top of the booms back to the vertical tail. Also continuing on each side of the rudder.

Not to forget to do both sides of the vertical tail and rudder as the exhaust stream split both sides equally.

Now the last item is to install the side opening canopy that was used on the "F". The LH side panel still rolled down on the left like a car door window. Applying the No Step markings on the upper frame.

And last but not least the side opening hatch/RH side window.

And thats it, is done. Tamiya P-38F Lightning. ETO