RAF 5 Group P-38J - more maybe than whif?

[kitbasher]

According to the Scalemates website, the Airfix P-38J first appeared in 1958.  My 1966 repop isn't my first P-38 kit – an Airfix P-38F (a far superior (and unrelated) kit) and a 1/72 Revell P-38L/M were offloaded a couple of years back – but this is the first P-38 I recall ever actually building.

Almost an OOB build - no panel scribing, gentle rubbing down of the rather delicate riveting and raised panel lines.  No correction of any shape-related deficiencies or other errors but various intakes were opened, wheel wells boxed, and add a bit of basic cockpit detail.  Work on the radiator fronts and rears was necessary, as was some work to the gaping supercharger intercooler intakes.  Basic enhancements to the rudimentary undercarriage, nothing too complex: replacement nosewheel (I think a Matchbox F-5A main wheel) and improved main wheels (grafted Academy P-40B main wheel halves), undercarriage legs had lengths of plastic card and/or strip/rod attached. 

Assembly was trouble-free and the fit of parts was actually not bad – some trimming of parts here and there but no real surprises.  Joints needed filler, however, and some very obvious wing root 'ledges' needed sorting out.  Again, nothing major, just basic modelling really.   

I was initially tempted to finish the model in 'what if?' RAF Tiger Force colours, then for a 'maybe' finish informed by February 2017 'Colour Conundrum' article in Scale Aircraft Modelling dealing with RAF 5 Group's trial of two loaned P-38Js in the Pathfinder target indicator role.  Author Paul Lucas suggested two possible colour schemes – Dark Green/Dark Earth uppers plus Night undersides or Dark Green/Ocean Grey uppers plus Medium Sea Grey undersides, although an April 2017 thread on Britmodeller suggested otherwise.  Then a 2020 thread at http://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/lightning-used-as-pathfinder-aircraft-in-british-service includes a photo of 'Droopsnoot' P-38J 44-23517 that appears to in be overall PRU Blue, replete with D-Day invasion stripes (https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/1609617930782-png.607237/).

Could the first machine (single-seater P-38J-20LO 44-23482) have been similarly painted?  We'll probably never know.

I chose this scheme for my build – very pretty, rather different, I think eye-catching, and nice and simple.

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[Captain Canada]

You picked a great scheme for her ! Looks perfect.

[chrisonord]

It really does suit that colour scheme, nice 

[kitbasher]

Wait a minute!  The hyperlink to the ww2Aircraft.net thread is missing!

All sorted, plus a link to the photo.

For the benefit of those who don't have the SAM article see text at https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/lightning-used-as-pathfinder-aircraft-in-british-service.55051/post-1602357

And thanks for the kind comments, Capt Canada and chrisonord.

[DogfighterZen]

That scheme looks great on the P-38, no doubt. Very nice work! 

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

Scheme really suits the P-38 sir   

[PR19_Kit]

Scheme really suits the P-38 sir   

It sure does. I did an F-5A in that scheme a while back as they operated from Mount Farm, a few miles north Benson where my Dad was based around D-Day time, and often co-operated in planned PR operations.

[Dizzyfugu]

IIRC some P-38Js and F-5s over Europe were painted in overall bluish-grey (FS 35237-ish), there is an 1:72 Italeri kit in such a guise, with undersides additionally painted black, and I think there's an 1:48 kit of an all-grey Lightning, too.

[Joe CalPo]

One of my fav planes!  I like that scheme on her.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Looks good and believable!

[Luftwaffe1946]

According to the Scalemates website, the Airfix P-38J first appeared in 1958.  My 1966 repop isn't my first P-38 kit – an Airfix P-38F (a far superior (and unrelated) kit) and a 1/72 Revell P-38L/M were offloaded a couple of years back – but this is the first P-38 I recall ever actually building.

Almost an OOB build - no panel scribing, gentle rubbing down of the rather delicate riveting and raised panel lines.  No correction of any shape-related deficiencies or other errors but various intakes were opened, wheel wells boxed, and add a bit of basic cockpit detail.  Work on the radiator fronts and rears was necessary, as was some work to the gaping supercharger intercooler intakes.  Basic enhancements to the rudimentary undercarriage, nothing too complex: replacement nosewheel (I think a Matchbox F-5A main wheel) and improved main wheels (grafted Academy P-40B main wheel halves), undercarriage legs had lengths of plastic card and/or strip/rod attached. 

Assembly was trouble-free and the fit of parts was actually not bad – some trimming of parts here and there but no real surprises.  Joints needed filler, however, and some very obvious wing root 'ledges' needed sorting out.  Again, nothing major, just basic modelling really.   

I was initially tempted to finish the model in 'what if?' RAF Tiger Force colours, then for a 'maybe' finish informed by February 2017 'Colour Conundrum' article in Scale Aircraft Modelling dealing with RAF 5 Group's trial of two loaned P-38Js in the Pathfinder target indicator role.  Author Paul Lucas suggested two possible colour schemes – Dark Green/Dark Earth uppers plus Night undersides or Dark Green/Ocean Grey uppers plus Medium Sea Grey undersides, although an April 2017 thread on Britmodeller suggested otherwise.  Then a 2020 thread at http://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/lightning-used-as-pathfinder-aircraft-in-british-service includes a photo of 'Droopsnoot' P-38J 44-23517 that appears to in be overall PRU Blue, replete with D-Day invasion stripes (https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/1609617930782-png.607237/).

Could the first machine (single-seater P-38J-20LO 44-23482) have been similarly painted?  We'll probably never know.

I chose this scheme for my build – very pretty, rather different, I think eye-catching, and nice and simple.

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[su27rules]