discussion Dave Ward's HobbyBoss 1/48 P-38L 'Easy Assembly'

[Dave Ward]

I'm intending to have a go at this, when my mojo returns.................

I have an AM decal sheet for this, as well. I'll post some sprue shots tomorrow - which for those that haven't seen this model are quite surprising!
Dave

 

[papa 695]

Thanks David, I hope your mojo returns soon.

 

[Dave Ward]

Shots of what's in the box................

I do have an aftermarket transfer sheet, but I can't put my hand on it for the moment! Plan B is the kit decals................
X 2 of these.


Canopies to HB usual standard - crystal clear & wrapped in foam.

Now, the main airframe - this is in 1/48 scale,
2 pieces, top & bottom!

A few detail shots

It's not quick assembly in the HB 1/72 style, but a vastly reduced part count, that does need glue to keep it together.
Two decal versions, one Olive Drab over natural metal, the other nm overall.
I'm sure that the model is simplified, but looks detailed enough for my taste!
Dave

 

[rtfoe]

This is beautiful...makes me wanna get one. Half the sanding and alignment work has been done with the two halves and engine cowlings. :tongue-out:

Dave, let us know how it fits.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Dave Ward]

Richard,
A quick dry fit looks very good. Some Revell Contacta, a few clamps, and I think there will be a little scraping along the seams, and that will be it ( The cockpit looks OK as well! ).
Dave

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Glad your mojo is returning. That kit looks great. Detail is nice even if a bit simplified and from what you have found a good fit. The main airframe like that is a new one on me.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

Jim,
don't really feel like starting this, though! :sad-face:
The HobbyBoss 1/48 Su-27 Flanker model is split like this - but MUCH bigger!
Dave

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
No rush. Start when the urge gets you - no good trying to force yourself.
Jim

 

[papa 695]

Hi Dave
No rush. Start when the urge gets you - no good trying to force yourself.
Jim

I agree with Jim, Dave. Start when your good and ready, you’ve got until the end of January.

 

[AlanG]

The HobbyBoss 1/48 Su-27 Flanker model is split like this - but MUCH bigger!

I have the kit in my 'to do' stash list. It looks a cracking kit. I also nearly bought the same P-38 kit as you too. But the Academy one came up for a price i couldn't refuse.

 

[Dave Ward]

I've been away from my bench for a while - laid low with sinusitis. Now that my head has cleared, and the ten day headache has gone, I'm going to return to building. - I just don't feel like picking up an existing build, so I'm going to make a start on this. I still can't find my aftermarket decal sheet, so I think I'll go for the Olive Drab over silver, rather than overall silver.
Construction will start shortly.......................
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

The fifteen cockpit parts, ready for clean up.......................

And after assembly ( the sides & yoke are only dry fitted )

There is a decal for the instrument panel - a bit of detail painting & washes should work well. Missing is the clear gunsight that mounts on the long bracket above the yoke. That will be added later.
No seatbelts - a pity, as the seat will be visible through the crystal clear canopy - I'll have to make some up. I was going to fit a pilot, but the only one I could find was clearly grasping a joystick, and hands nowhere near the yoke!
There is no mention of weight addition, to prevent tail sitting, but there's plenty of room in the nose, I'll see how that pans out............
Dave
Just had a brainwave: the Eduard PE set for my Mossie has seatbelts - but the kit has two rather splendid RAF types as crew, so I won't be needing those belts - OK, they're the wrong spec, but better than anything I can cobble together!

 

[Dave Ward]

Seatbelts added ( from the Eduard Mossie detail set - which will be completed with crew )

Then, the big join! I used Humbrol Liquid Poly, applied with a medium brush, just wicking it into the joint before light clamping - it took quite a while, but the final joint is not bad

There are no glaring gaps, just slight mis-matches, that will disappear when scraped.
The cockpit needs a wash or two, but not bad

Just the rudders, and the two engine nacelles to add, and that's it for the main airframe.
I'll put a new blade in my scalpel, and attack those joints tomorrow
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Weights added to the engine nacelles................

Airframe complete, apart from the elevator mass balances.

The nose is only dry fitted, so I can add more weights!
Next step, masking, and primer............
Dave

 

[minitnkr]

Looks mighty fine. PaulE

 

[Dave Ward]

Primed overall black - my favourite Stynylrez.

The underside sprayed AK Metal silver

This looks a bit bright at the moment - but it'll tone down with varnish oversprays.
The upper surfaces are Olive Drab - with a wavy hard demarcation line with the silver. I'm going to use masking fluid to protect the silver, before spraying the OD - I could brush paint it, I want to try the masking fluid over a large surface.
Dave

 

[rtfoe]

Looks like a real easy build Dave, look forward to the OD and waves. :thumb2:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Dave Ward]

The assembly is very easy, just a little careful edge preparation needed - if I wasn't painting, it could be together in an hour!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

OK, that didn't go as well as I hoped.............................
I applied the masking fluid, with a brush, to the undersides, making a smooth line between olive drab & slilver. After letting the fluid dry for a couple of hours, I sprayed the uppersurfaces with Hataka A018 US Olive Drab - which went on nicely.

I let this dry for a few hours, then started to peel off the mask. Sadly, instead of leaving a smooth line, the masking took off small bits of the olive drab.................

I got the demarcation line in just about the right place, as you cant see ( much ) OD from below.


I think that the dried OD paint is a little flexible ( like a skin ), and the removal of the mask is just enough to take small bits off.
I'll have to resort to the hairy stick to clean up the edges.
It was an experiment, to see if the fluid would be an easier way to do the split, and it didn't really work. I should have gone with my first thought - brush painting the demarcation line, then filling in with the airbrush!
Using the masking fluid on small areas, like cockpit canopies, works, but with the acrylic paint, it's problematical!
Dave

 

[Fernando N]

Neat looking office Dave, too bad the masking experiment didn’t work out.
You can also use the Blue/white tack method for the demarcation lines, although that takes up some time.