1/32 Trumpeter P-38J/L started Pudgy 5(back page)

[Morris]

I i5ntend building two of these- and early one and a late war model (Pudgy McGuire's) - Obviously the Red Bull P-38 at Duxford got me started on wanting to do this yonks ago...

I skipped the engine steps as the back dated engine pylons nose with the angled air scoops are solid - I went straight to the next steps which ware around the landing gear bays.....
I also combined the SAC and kit landing gear struts -

[Morris]

The landing gear bays and landing gear struts were a built with kit, SAC and Eduard P/E parts

Then both sides done finally (one strut oleo wasn't oriented correctly, so I had to take it apart and turn it 180 deg....)

Then it's flip the bays over and add the supercharger assys. (I cut the piping short to accommodate the future solid back date parts - then I assembled and painted the rudder assys.


A couple of more items and then the major surgery starts on the wing pylons...

[wingnut2]

Hi Morris, an Interesting choice ! not at all familiar with the aircraft ? no camo ? what was it's main purpose/roll ? looking forward to your "paint job" with curiosity and more interest.
Wink.

[steve131]

Saw you were after one of these , and I couldn't find one anywhere ,glad you got one in the end, saw the early version of this kit did a Richard Bong scheme as well . Mike this plane was flown by the two highest scoring American Aces of WW II ,both medal of honour winners and both would be dead by end 1945 . Not an overly popular aircraft with some pilot's but as said earlier Dick Bong and Tommy Mcguire were successful .

[Morris]

Thanks for the comments - I just hope now I can make Jerry Rutman set work....
I need to go stand down that request since you've reminded me....

[Morris]

I feel and share Mark's pain with his Hellcat P/E model also. My first attempt at grafting the Rutman parts to the P-38 booms was a failure. I'm backing up to re-group and to try again with lessons learned.

[snapdragon]

What is the kit like, Morris?

Is it accurate with plenty of detail? Nose weight etc? And without the backdate set does it go together well?

Trumpeter sometimes misses the mark with their 1/32 aircraft but they usually are all good builds.

[Morris]

Hi SD - I like the big trumpeter - it has good and 'less good' things listed below -.As to nose weight, the backdate parts are resin so the engine / boom fronts are heavy'ish - like I won't need to add too much weight in her nose - but some will be needed.

Good: the subject, fit, clear parts, surface detailing - engines are great but not doing them as the nacelles are solid
Less good: Punch Marks,,,,, rubber tyres, wing dihedral is dropping, I will have to correct it

Morris' ham fisted attempt at grafting surgery was a definite augering in

Anyway, I got my hands on some spare boom sprues/frets - back up and re-try

[Mark]

Good fit? It must be one of the newer Trumpeter kits
My Mig 15 fitted where it touched, with some very questionable kit design in places. Still, it only cost a fiver!! (Best not mention the £50 I spent in aftermarket parts to bring it up to a reasonable standard) and it's still languishing in the "I must get back to that sometime soon... well soonish....." pile. I got distracted by the MFH Brough Superior.....

Enjoying your project Morris. It's looking stunning so far.

[Morris]

Thanks for looking in and commenting - Mark this one does okay for fit (so far) - Whilst waiting on more parts, I done a little bit on the fuselage - front landing gear and bay - made a start on the 'office'.

I do not know what the above box is that is mounted behind the pilots seat stand... - it was part of the Eduard upgrade parts - maybe a map case or something...

[builder76]

Enjoying the build so far Morris. YP38 is an interesting aircraft with its unusual configuration

John

[snapdragon]

Looking really good Morris.

I will admit that the new Mig 29 kits seem to be calling me as well as the Tomcat and other recent jets.

They'll have to wait until my trip to Ukraine has been done and some certain ZM products have been aquired or there's one come up on EBay with a totally unresistable price!

There's no rush is there?

[Morris]

I'm sorry to keep going in circles on this build but I just wasn't happy with the green gear bays on an early P-38. So I am re-starting them again.....port bay finished now - on to the stbd one....then back to the nose gear bay again....

[Morris]

Okay, I'm now back to where I was before - all landing gear and bays done - Now will start on the 'office' - Finishing all the internals in natural metal - just feels more like a late 30's / early 40's transition to me......

[Morris]

Now getting back into the cockpit....

[Morris]

I've adjusted the title a bit to include maybe back dating to an E or F model also, - I'm all over the page right now on what can and can't do with my limited abilities and eye eight... - But I will back date it to one of them hopefully - It just may end up being an amalgamation ....

[Morris]

Got further into the cockpit - Using a lot of the Eduard P/E and an aftermarket B-17 steering wheel. Added a gun button housing to the right spoke - it was the nearest I could find to replace the later control wheel used on the J models onward.....

[number1]

Looks great so far, keep it coming!

[Mark]

Incredibly realistic. You're nailing the cockpit, for sure!

[royjess]

Brilliant work as usual Morris, loving the detailing