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Playing in the Sandbox Group Build Sept 1, 2024 - Jn 1, 2025

Tamiya P-38F Lightning


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Peter, this one slipped past me as well, I really must pay more attention. Looking as polished as ever. I also have this in the stash, I love their ball bearings in the nacelles rather than stuffing the nose wheel with weights. If you remember I did the Eduard / Academy boxing of the F. That came with some great resin and PE so I kept some for the Tamiya build. Would well commend adding the Master barrels, they do look amazing…..here they are on the Eduard / Academy boxing, literally just dipped them blackening fluid……

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Hi Phil

Yup, I do remember your P-38 build and though it was so very well done.

It's just amazing how Tamiya thinks things though and engineers their kits with an abundance of detail, beautiful fit and nearly perfect instructions. I already have the nose. MG assembly glued in place but if I can fit the Master Barrels MG in from the front, I'll most likely give them a try.

 

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On 5/12/2023 at 2:02 PM, Peterpools said:

 For me, the hobby now has been all about enjoyments and relaxation. The early years were all about competition and I', glad all that is behind me. 

 

 

 

Hey Pete!

Love your P-38. Great job!

I hear ya brother. If I never set foot in another model competition venue I’m good with that.

Great choice for an enjoyable build- My go-to in that scenario will likely be the Tamiya 1/48 F-35A. 
 

looking forward to watching you work! Great stuff.

 

cheers

Pete

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Thanks Pete

Much appreciated. Making nice progress and about ready for another update as the main gear bays are done and the twin tail booms are ready to be closed up.

Just a pleasure to work on a kit where the parts fit as intended and the instructions are clear as a bell. 👍

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MAIN GEAR WELLS & TAIL BOOMS

AND MORE PROGRESS

Just what the modeling doctor ordered for rejuvenating my beforehand floundering mojo.

Main Gear Wheel Wells and Gear Doors.

The detailing is unreal. I lost count on how many parts each main gear wheel well contained but was blown away by Tamiya’s precision and engineering. Very thin and what seemed like delicate parts, none broke or cracked removing them from the sprues and cleaning up the sprue nubs. They fit like a glove and when installed, following the build sequence in the instructions, zero issues at all. Everything fit exactly as it should.

All the gear doors are comprised of two main parts; inside and outside and wonderfully detailed. 

The wheel wells and gear doors were primed with MRP Black Primer and the metal finish is Tamiya Gloss Aluminum Lacquer LP70, thinned 70:30 thinner to paint

Tail booms

The tail booms’ radiator and oil cooler assemblies were airbrushed and then glued into place; fit was spot on. The four small radiators are decals and work well seeing as they are buried and the effect is just fine. Front oil coolers were painted Titanium Gold, followed up with a Black Panel Wash, little can be seen but it’s there. All fit like a glove and so far, zero issues.

Care needs to be exercised as the gear door actuators are fully exposed and easily broken.  While the part fit is exceptional, some Mr Surfacer will be needed as there are a few gaps that need attention.

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21 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

Much appreciated John

I was amazed at the level of decal in the wheel wells and everything actually fit as it was designed too; now how about that!

 

 

One of the big pluses for Tamiya kits!

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Peter, 

Looks amazing and glad to see your mojo is back in full-force!  Yes, the Quinta cockpit looks great, but you are a master at applying it as well - it doesn't just happen.  You always make the most of a kit, and the better the kit the more you make of it.  The detail of the bays looks amazing, so you will HAVE to get a magnifying mirror to use as the base so all that detail doesn't go unseen.

I had to look up what the P-38 at Udvar Hazy is to see if you needed any detail pictures (regardless of the model, you don't!! :unworthy: ).  Its a J-10-LO anyway.

Definitely enjoying following your build!

Chris

 

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Thanks Carl

I was knocked out after I finished the gear bays at the level of detail and part fit was typically superb Tamiya. You're so right, when Tamiya tackles an engineering problem such as the tail booms, they come up with innovated solutions that solves the problem, without having to jump through hoops.

 

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Thanks Chris

Glad to see you're on board for the journey. The Tamiya P-38 was exactly what I needed to get the juices flowing and eager to work at the bench. The kit details and part fit are amazing, and no guess work needed to determine where and how parts fit.

Thank you for the compliments on the front office and the Quinta Decals. I've been using them since they first appeared and they are my detail set of choice if available for any build. And of course, thank you for the offer of P-38 detail photos if needed.

 

 

 

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These wheel wells look fantastic Peter, more and more details along the great engineering of the kit. The tail assembly seems perfect. My original thinking was for my future P-38 build, to do it along a second P-38 from Academy. I'm not so sure anymore :D.

Cheers Rob

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Phil

Thank you.

The gear bays are OOB and went together perfectly. All I did was follow the assembly sequence in the instructions and as always, label each part, so not confuse left and right boom parts as I painted everything prior to assembly. 

Just a dream to build to this point. 

 

 

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Hey, have the same kit and, well, your build gives me confidence.... Nicely done.

I ordered some Eduard masks yesterday.... Hope they'll come soon. It's

been years since I've built a 1/48 aircraft kit. Well, why not build one of Tamiya's

Offerings?...... Why call these kits Boring? Seems almost crazy! A well-fitting and engineered kit should be what all manufacturers should be striving for....

....right? I'm glad to see this. I'm looking forward to see the rest of your build.

Thanks Peter, enjoying your build....and looking forward to its conclusion.

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