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

Tamiya P-38F Lightning


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Paul, 

Very much appreciated. If you want an exception P-38 in your collection and a build with zero vices, loads of details and packed full of enjoyment, Tamiya's offering is the way to go.

Absolutely agree and I've been on the band wagon for years:  Tamiya kits are well engineered, nearly perfect instructions, build and fit as intended, are absolutely not shake and bake, fall together kits - they are how a model kit should be. Just empty the contents onto to the bench, take a nap and when you come back, the pile of parts and frets will still be there. When completed and on the shelf, the builder will admire their skills and abilities as with any kit just a lot less aggravation to get there. All the modeling skills are needed and used, what is not needed is hours of head banging trying to correct the errors and non-precision fit and parts of a kit. Each of us derives satisfaction from different means, different types of kits and builds and that's how it should be. No question, Tamiya for me, is the bar that all manufactures should emulate. 

 

 

 

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Peter,

I'm hoping their P-38H will go together as well as your build is.  I'm in full agreement that a well engineered kit adds to the enjoyment of the build.  It may be satisfying to fix errors and figure out a way to put together a difficult build, but I find building a terrific kit is more relaxing and fun.  Lots to be said for having fun!!

Can't wait to see your next update.  :popcorn:

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PREPPING FOR PRIMING

A few small seams needed attention (strictly the builders cause) and once done and onto the tail booms. Tamiya magic at work: the turbo charger assembly (step #1) has tabs at both ends, the front holds itself in place and the rear tab will lock the tail boom (step#2) in place for permanent gluing. It’s absolutely imperative you follow the instruction sequence or trouble for sure.

The horizontal stabilizer and rudders were glued into position – solid and sure.

I thought I would get a jump start on prepping for priming while newly glued parts were drying and would tackle the intricate canopy masking, or so I thought. Up to the Tamiya P-38 kit, the masks need to be carefully cut out as they are not die cut. Normally in 32nd scale, no issues but for me in 48th scale, I couldn’t keep straight and true on the lines and curves, just too small for these old eyes. Nothing else to do but place a small order with SB for the Eduard mask set and a few other items and wait for delivery. In the meantime, I went to work finishing up all the smaller assemblies and parts that needed to be added prior to priming. If timing works out right, I should have everything ready for priming when the mask set arrives.

 First up was the front canopy and gunsight – remarkable detailing and fits like a glove. The front windscreen is resting in place and it would be nice if I sat in place correctly for the pics. 

I finished painting and adding all the detailed parts for the turtle deck and the detail and fit was brilliant.

The only issue was fitting the pilot’s seat in place, as it’s a tight fit. Initial tweaking didn’t help and then I found the culprit: the nose wheel bulge – kept interfering with the pilot’s seat nestling down into place – fixed and done.  Not sure how or why I had the fit problem but easy enough to fix. 

The wind screen is just resting in place and it would have been nice if I actually seated it correctly.

cCbZXG.jpg

H6SFVn.jpg

TiQIcQ.jpg

 

 

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Thanks Phil

I'm going with the kit decals for the P-38F. Tamiya decals are getting better and thought I would give them a shot. I even saw on a review that the mask set for the F-38 is now dye cut - if so, that's great.

 

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4 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Thanks Phil

I'm going with the kit decals for the P-38F. Tamiya decals are getting better and thought I would give them a shot. I even saw on a review that the mask set for the F-38 is now dye cut - if so, that's great.

 

I've had no problems with Tamiya decals lately.. The last few tamiya kits

I have built they were just fine. They responded well to the decal solution I

use....Walther's Solvaset.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Kev 

Just a short vacation as I work on another Tamiya kit: 1/32 P-51D Mustang. When the Mustang hits the paint booth, I'll be picking up where I left off on the P-38 and work on both at nearly the same time. The Lightning has now been masked and almost ready for priming.

What held me up was I miserably failed cutting the canopy masks for the P-38 and had to order a set of Eduard masks - so in the intern, I started tinkering with the Mustang and you know what always happens :construction:

 

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  • 2 months later...

BACK AND UNDERWAY AGAIN

Just a quick update photograph:

My Tamiya P-38F is back on the bench and underway again. A days' worth of work remembering where I was in the build, cleaning her up of any dust that may have worked its way into the Tupperware storage container, fine tuning the gear and wheels, fussing with the canopy masking and taking care of a few odds and ends. Gear bays need to be masked and she is then off to the paint shop for priming. The kit supplied center (closed) canopy will be used for masking, as I'm going with the open canopy version, as well as the canopies still need to be glued into place, as they are still being test fitted.

XOh5V4.jpg

 

 

 

 

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