Red Air Force liaison officers were following the development of Lockheed's Lightning closely, even after the RAF had rejected it (with good reason) out of hand. When they witnessed how the Lightning was used to advantage in the Pacific theatre, they knew they had found something special. What was needed was a high performance aircraft capable of coastal patrol, and with strike capability. The twin engine layout and load lifting ability, combined with good range, made it a natural.
So it was that the VVS was able to acquire through Lend Lease, a number of P-38G and H models, most of which had been used as training aircraft in the US. Some 250 aircraft were made available in this way, starting in late 1943 and with all units delivered by mid-1944.
After receiving them at maintenance depots, the aircraft were modified by replacing the cockpit Perspex with armored glass, installing Russian radio equipment, removing the wingtips, and adapting the hard points to receive the British Mk.XII aerial torpedo. By being used at low to mid altitudes, the detonation and engine issues that had plagued USAAF use of the Lightning in Northwest Europe became a non-issue. The engines had already been overhauled prior to delivery, and the turbo-supercharges modified for low level operation.
In Northern Fleet service, the P-38 was called Oрел (Eagle), and was highly effective in disrupting German naval activity in the Baltic Sea. The Eagle was also used for photo reconnaissance, and could also be employed as fighter escort for Tu-2, and A-20 light bombers. Many different variations and armament fits were possible due to the Lightning's adaptability, which made it extremely popular with VVS crews.
(https://i.imgur.com/PaqIJAvh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HPXzee6h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oeIX3kwh.jpg)
Here we have another cheesy what-if, the main purpose here was to move it from the Shelf of Doom to the other shelf :lol:. This is an old paint mule, that has had at least three different schemes applied, and removed. Thus the surface detail is long gone ;).
It is of course the old Airfix early P-38, which is a decent little kit in it's own right, it just needs a little help here and there.
Thanks for stopping in, and
Best regards,
Kem
Wonderful, and great way of resurrecting an ancient model. :thumbsup:
Love the torp in mid drop, that works a treat. ;D
I like that. Very innovative.
Very clever display, I like that a lot! And the subtle variations on the airframe.
That's a good idea! :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Very nice, esp. when it's the Airfix kit. I like the display with the dropped torpedo, too - should make good action pics.
Yebat!!!! That is very nice, comrade!! Excellent concept and execution! :mellow: :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
That does look good :thumbsup:
Very nice ! What an excellent display as well.
:thumbsup:
Thanks, guys! :thumbsup: You are all good sports :angel:
Kit: You probably noticed that I shortened the wings on this one ;)
KZ, DF, & CC: The stand is perhaps the cheesiest article here . . . . copper wire and a chunk of wood :-\ But cheap! :mellow:
Quote from: b29r on March 02, 2018, 11:13:15 AM
Kit: You probably noticed that I shortened the wings on this one ;)
I tried not to think about it as I admired the other aspects.......... ;)
Comrade, the Praesidium of the Central Soviet views with satisfaction your modelling of a P-38G of the VVS Northern Fleet launching a capitalist torpedo as improved by the February 30th Red Banner Munitions Factory . You will be rewarded with an extra portion of cabbage soup in the next-but-one five year plan!
Yup, it's a good one!!
Quote from: Rheged on March 02, 2018, 01:50:00 PM
Comrade, the Praesidium of the Central Soviet views with satisfaction your modelling of a P-38G of the VVS Northern Fleet launching a capitalist torpedo as improved by the February 30th Red Banner Munitions Factory . You will be rewarded with an extra portion of cabbage soup in the next-but-one five year plan!
Wow, serious praise indeed. :thumbsup:
Kem will be honoured.
That is good :thumbsup:
Gondor
Seeing this made me look the P-38 up in my "American Combat Planes" by Ray Warner. It was the easiest one to reach on the shelf ;)
I've always wondered why the Lightning wasn't delivered under Lend Lease ? I know the RAF ordered around 600 (Mk's I and II) but that these were rejected in the end because of the removal of the turbosuperchargers ? Only a couple were delivered to foreign airforce's apparently ? Australia and France got some pre-used F4's and 5's and then China, Italy and Honduras got some post War, but that was it. Wonder why it wasn't offered to more airforces ?
On reading about some of the interesting armament options looked at/tested one flew with two torpedo's,
Got me thinking of the RS kits in the stash :thumbsup:
That's some good questions actually.... opens up a lot of room for what if builds, for sure! Like you, I'm wanting to drag out my lone P-38.... it's the old F-4 by... Revell I think it was?? I'm going to try to make that one real world... they really put a nice, snazzy blue fade type of PR paint job on it. :wub:
If I was strictly guessing, I'd say that parts and materials might have come into play... kind of like the superchargers deal. Maybe we didn't have enough "stuff" to go around to justify passing it around to other nations or either that or it would be a hamstrung version not really worth shipping across the ocean.
Just a bunch of wild speculation on my part, though. Don't pay me no never mind. ;D
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 03, 2018, 03:21:19 AM
Australia and France got some pre-used F4's and 5's and then China, Italy and Honduras got some post War, but that was it. Wonder why it wasn't offered to more airforces ?
Perhaps because single engine fighters were outperforming it, had better air to ground capabilities and single engines were cheaper and easier to maintain.
Nice job b29r. Well done!
Quote from: sandiego89 on March 03, 2018, 11:35:33 AM
Perhaps because single engine fighters were outperforming it, had better air to ground capabilities and single engines were cheaper and easier to maintain.
Nice job b29r. Well done!
Yea, but apart from that ? ;)
No seriously I do follow that, but I'm particularly thinking about the pre/early War period ? When Britain and France seemingly were ordering anything that could fly and some that couldn't :banghead: a lot off the drawing board. Some of those orders could then have been passed on ?