The tale of three P-38 Lightnings...Matchbox, Monogram and Academy.

[rtfoe]

Thanks Guys...Kelly, Steven, Jim and Joe. I really had fun working on these Lightnings with three at one sitting. Wanted to do the same for my P-47's but managed only the Razorback.

Panel line wash will be next.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi,
These are a set of images without the panel washes so it's clean...
















Next will be the set with the panel washes I promise. :smiling2:

Cheers,
Richars

[rtfoe]

Here's a set with the panel wash and streaks...



The wash brings out the cavities of the air scoops around the supercharger.














Cheers,
Richard

[scottie3158]

Richard,
Very nice builds mate.

[colin m]

They look great Richard. A trio of Lightnings, I think we need a collective noun for this.

[stillp]

A storm?
Pete

[rtfoe]

Thanks guys. A storm sounds good Peter...how about Three Strikes and Yer Out. I know the next is nothing to do with Lightnings but I had thought of naming them Curly, Larry and Mo. :smiling6:

Now this set is with the chipping or wearing of the paint on the walkway along the cockpit. This has the antenna lines mounted.



















Next will be the P-38D

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
Looks great as does all your work. Do you use oils for the panel wash?
Jim

[rtfoe]

Thanks Jim, I've switched from oils to water color for quite some time now when I do planes. I still use oils for armor though for that grimy look.

I find that water color is easier to fix if there's a smudge. A lot cleaner as well. The rule is to cover it with varnish when done or for the next layer of weathering.

Cheers,
Richard

[colin m]

A storm?
Pete

Top job, a storm of Lightnings. I like it..

[Guest]

Beautiful paint work Richard, love the cockpit canopy, very precise work on that.

[adt70hk]

Got to say you've done a lovely job Richard!!

[rtfoe]

Thank you gentlemen, I will be proceeding with the third Lightning which is the P-38D. I had put this kit together and left it mothballed for sometime. Its evident by the yellowing glue marks...it's already engraved so no scribing for this one.



The difference on this variant is that the scoops under the propeller is minus the chin. The front of the canopy is also not flat. The actuating arm for the front main wheel is forward instead of at the back. Another feature difference is that the canopy door on the top opens to the side rather than back.



The cockpit arrangement is the same...



The joints to the boom still needed puttying but not as much as the Monogram kit.



The surface looks so much cleaner minus the rivets



The seatbelts I made earlier have been added.



I wanted one side of the canopy wound down so I I left a strip as a support. It's sprayed with interior green as the first coat.



Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

This time I only needed a light coat of primer and then proceeded with pre-shading. I used the canopy as a mask for the cockpit.



The canopy getting the second coat for the frame.



Using blutac as a mask for the wavy demarcation of the top and bottom after having sprayed the bottom with nuetral grey.



I masked areas that were going to be lighter shade of panels to preserve the preshade.



The blutac gives a semi hard feathered edge after spraying. I used the end of a brush to tease the blutac into shape.




Cheers,
Richard

[Steven000]

Very nice Richard :thumb2: