1:48 Hasegawa P38-J Lightning

[Cymru]

As my Whirlwind was finished quite quickly so I will start this second entry in to the GB...

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II-era American piston-engined fighter aircraft. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Allied propaganda claimed it had been nicknamed the fork-tailed devil (German: der Gabelschwanz-Teufel) by the Luftwaffe and "two planes, one pilot" by the Japanese. The P-38 was used for interception, dive bombing, level bombing, ground attack, night fighting, photo reconnaissance, radar and visual path-finding for bombers and evacuation missions and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings.

The P-38 was used most successfully in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations as the aircraft of America's top aces, Richard Bong (40 victories), Thomas McGuire (38 victories) and Charles H. MacDonald (27 victories). In the South West Pacific theatre, the P-38 was the primary long-range fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the appearance of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs, toward the end of the war.

The P-38 was unusually quiet for a fighter, the exhaust muffled by the turbo-superchargers. It was extremely forgiving and could be mishandled in many ways but the rate of roll in the early versions was too slow for it to excel as a dog-fighter. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbour to Victory over Japan Day.

[Cymru]

Sprue shots...

[Cymru]

Sprue shots...

[Cymru]

Sprue shots...

[shortCummins]

I'll just pull up a chair

[demarcation]

[Cymru]

Welcome aboard gents
The cockpit tub is built, painted, just needs a wash...

[Cymru]

Some more pics...

[Cymru]

Cockpit in place, wings n booms added along with a shed load of PE! The wheel bays have been primed but I will not be priming the airframe as this will be a coat of gloss black as a base for the NFM.

[Cymru]

Further progress...

[Lysus]

Fantastic start...the PE looks stunning.

[Cymru]

Thanks gents. After a coat of gloss black (MRP), no primer, then a coat of NFM (AK Xtreme Metal 477 Chrome).

[Tomcat64]

Great work on all that detailing mate and that is one super shiny finish!

[Lysus]

Yeah, I'm drooling over that shine.

[Cymru]

Yeah, I'm drooling over that shine.

Thanks Tomcat64 & Lysus, yes I am drooling over the finish too! I have used the Will Patison method (for the first time) and the pictures don't really show just how smooth & mirror like it is.

[Tomcat64]

You mean it's even shinier in real life??

[NorthernModeller]

WOW the shine on that is awesome love the lightning. Great work

[RicRodrigues]

Yeah, I'm drooling over that shine.

Thanks Tomcat64 & Lysus, yes I am drooling over the finish too! I have used the Will Patison method (for the first time) and the pictures don't really show just how smooth & mirror like it is.

It looks like I've missed that Will Patison method!!!... Is there a tutorial or step by step thread/video?
Absolutely amazing finish!!! Joining the drooling crew!!!

[Cymru]

It looks like I've missed that Will Patison method!!!... Is there a tutorial or step by step thread/video?
Absolutely amazing finish!!! Joining the drooling crew!!!

When it comes to the final reveal I will try to get some shots that really show just how bloody shiny this thing is. I will also show you how I messed up!
Just look for Will Patison on You-Tube and his "bare metal adventure". Since there are eight episodes, each about an hour long , I will shrink it down for you

1: After sanding, buff the plastic to a high shine. Preparation is everything. Do not prime!

2: Apply a tack coat then a good wet coat of either Mr.Color GX-2 gloss black (Not available in the UK) or MRP-172 super gloss black. IMPORTANT! No other gloss black will work to this level, ask WP, he tested them all

3: Now immediately apply a heavy coat of pure Mr.Color Levelling Thinner. Apply a second coat a few minutes later if desired.

4: Allow 24 hrs to cure.

5: Apply a tack coat then a wet coat of AK Extreme Metal Chrome AK-477 (Again, no other product works to this level). Apply no more than two coats close together. Allow at least 24 hrs before handling.

A word of advice, use gloves to handle your model after painting, DO NOT TOUCH with your fingers as it will leave stains that cannot be removed.

Hope this helps

[DrSprue]

It looks like I've missed that Will Patison method!!!... Is there a tutorial or step by step thread/video?
Absolutely amazing finish!!! Joining the drooling crew!!!

When it comes to the final reveal I will try to get some shots that really show just how bloody shiny this thing is. I will also show you how I messed up!
Just look for Will Patison on You-Tube and his "bare metal adventure". Since there are eight episodes, each about an hour long , I will shrink it down for you

1: After sanding, buff the plastic to a high shine. Preparation is everything. Do not prime!

2: Apply a tack coat then a good wet coat of either Mr.Color GX-2 gloss black (Not available in the UK) or MRP-172 super gloss black. IMPORTANT! No other gloss black will work to this level, ask WP, he tested them all

3: Now immediately apply a heavy coat of pure Mr.Color Levelling Thinner. Apply a second coat a few minutes later if desired.

4: Allow 24 hrs to cure.

5: Apply a tack coat then a wet coat of AK Extreme Metal Chrome AK-477 (Again, no other product works to this level). Apply no more than two coats close together. Allow at least 24 hrs before handling.

A word of advice, use gloves to handle your model after painting, DO NOT TOUCH with your fingers as it will leave stains that cannot be removed.

Hope this helps

OK writing this one down.. awesome shine!!... just awesome and who does not love a P38!!

[Cymru]

I have managed to get this build done just in time Nothing to add to the build except, if your going for the NMF, try to avoid any "sag" as this pic shows!

Final reveal is here: viewtopic.php?f=604&t=23187&p=288770#p288770