Yaks Revell (monogram) P-38M night lightning in 1/48

[yak face]

Started to make the rear cockpit today. Made a basic box from plastic card and found a seat in the spares box that I’ve cut down and should do nicely. The radar instrument panel as supplied is a bit too thick so I’ve cut it in half and also drilled out the scope and viewing hood. I also made a radio set that sits at the side of the seat . This will all get painted then I’m going to add some pe belts and that’s about it . I started on the booms too with some pe radiator grilles being fitted and blanking off the open ends of the undercarriage bay with plastic card

[Jim R]

Hi Tony
That cockpit is impressive. Really taking this to the next level.
Jim

[scottie3158]

Tony,
Looking good, nice work so far.

[papa 695]

Great work on the cockpit Tony. Coming along nicely.

[yak face]

Got the rear cockpit painted and fitted the belts ( eduard pre painted steel again) to the seat . The radar set and radio have been put in and it’s all done now. The final bit to be fitted was a few of the nail art caviar balls on the throttle quadrants and flap levers , the etched fret did supply these but obviously they are flat so I didn’t use them . Next up more boom action! Cheers tony

[yak face]

Got the other boom together today and gave them both a dose of filler round the intakes as the separate kit intake fronts were a bit small .The top and bottom of the fuselage/wings is ready to go together but not until I drilled the identification lights out and glued some silver sequins behind the holes. These will be filled later with clear red,green and orange ( amber) . I’ve also boxed in the wing mounted landing light and will be adding a light later.

[rtfoe]

Fantastic Tony, you've added more detail than I to the same kit. I like the sequins for the identification lights. Funny that Monogram didn't provide the tub for the piggy back rider cockpit night fighter version. Good job on that.

Cheers,
Richard

[yak face]

Got the top and bottom wings together now with more pegs than your nans clothes line on washday ,with just a touch of filler needed on the back edge of the second cockpit insert. The nose wheel bay was bugging me as there isn’t one to speak of , just the underneath of the cockpit floor and no sides so I boxed it in with plastic card and it looks tons better . I think I may have to do something similar with the main wheel bays too, I know no ones going to ever see up there but I just can’t leave them , it would drive me nuts knowing that the rest of the model is very detailed but they were rubbish.

[rtfoe]

Hi Tony, great work on the boxing up of the front wheel bay. Are you going to add the ladder later extracted or stored? I faired up that area on mine. The other area to check out are the wing tips, they're not thick but bevel upwards.

Cheers,
Richard

[yak face]

Cheers richard , I cut off the lugs on the ladder and glued a piece of plastic card at the pivot end so i can add the ladder in the extended position later on. I haven't got round to sanding the joints on the wings yet but when I do I’ll sort the tips out ,thanks for the heads up cheers tony

[papa 695]

Coming along nicely Tony

[yak face]

Got the seams on the booms sanded , just got to reinstate a bit of the detail, and got them glued to the wings .the underside of the wing to boom joint is a bit large but a smear with Vallejo acrylic putty and a wet finger should sort that . The tail plane hasn’t been glued yet, I’m just trying it for fit . Looking a bit more like a lightning now .

[papa 695]

Coming along very nicely Tony

[scottie3158]

Tony,
Looking good.

[flyjoe180]

Coming along nicely Tony