P38J Lightnings

[Kittyhawk]

Here are some P38s just completed, and thank goodness they're finally done.
Normally, aeroplanes take a few days to complete, these went on for weeks although to be fair this included a couple of periods of down time when I put down my tools in disgust and walked out of the aircraftery in a state of extreme pistoffidness.

I build many different models but the basic process is the same. Cutting out the parts for the P38s the thought occurred that I was really getting quite good at this aeroplane building business. This was not a good thought to entertain because somewhere across the vast reaches of the cosmos my thoughts were intercepted by the fates who replied , 'oh, really'?

From that point on the job took a U turn. Everything I touched turned to poo. Wood splintered, tools broke, I planed the top off my fingers... Thankfully though the job did stutter along fitfully to its conclusion and I am very happy to put these models away in my workshop cupboard and not see them again until the customers come to collect them, two out of the three anyway.

On the plus side I did learn a couple of things along the way that I am sure will benefit me in the future. No, wait! Tempting fate. I didn't say that. I didn't even think it..

 

[Gordon Tarling]

Super-looking models! The P-38 is one of my favourite fighters.

G.

 

[stuckinthemud]

And mine. What scale are they?

 

[Jameshow]

Btw how does a P38 compare to a mozzie???

Cheers James

 

[TheTiddles]

Btw how does a P38 compare to a mozzie???

Cheers James

Well they both had two engines, not much else in common

 

[Adam W.]

Those, are most handsome.

 

[Kittyhawk]

And mine. What scale are they?

Scale is 40:1 and is what I use for all the fighters. For the P38 model this makes a wingspan of 39cm.
My opinion, subject to correction from more learned people than me, is the the Mosquito was a vastly superior aeroplane. The P38 is much beloved by Americans, I suspect mainly because of its iconic looks but the reality was as an aircraft it was beset by a huge number of technical problems relating to engine reliability, performance, the barely understood at the time issues of compressibility, flutter, and the fact that in the European theatre the aeroplane was required to operate at around 30,000ft altitude as a bomber escort and the pilots nearly froze to death - a number ended up with frostbite. The Americans didn't know how quick to get rid of it in favour of the P51 Mustang when it became available. The Lightning did ok in the Pacific though, but for reasons more to do with shortcomings on the Japanese side.

 

[kmcleod]

mosquiote and hornet variant far more superior airframe, and the first true multi role aircraft,,,light bomber, night fighter, recon,,,it did them all...

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Scale is 40:1 and is what I use for all the fighters. For the P38 model this makes a wingspan of 39cm.
My opinion, subject to correction from more learned people than me, is the the Mosquito was a vastly superior aeroplane. The P38 is much beloved by Americans, I suspect mainly because of its iconic looks but the reality was as an aircraft it was beset by a huge number of technical problems relating to engine reliability, performance, the barely understood at the time issues of compressibility, flutter, and the fact that in the European theatre the aeroplane was required to operate at around 30,000ft altitude as a bomber escort and the pilots nearly froze to death - a number ended up with frostbite. The Americans didn't know how quick to get rid of it in favour of the P51 Mustang when it became available. The Lightning did ok in the Pacific though, but for reasons more to do with shortcomings on the Japanese side.

A P38 (kitted out for reconnaissance) crashed near here in 1944 - because of mechanical trouble - the pilot survived and lived to a ripe old age. I have found bits of the wreckage embedded in the ground and in local trees.

 

[stuartpaul]

Those look really good. What are the chances of you doing a wip as I’m sure many (me anyhow!) would love to see how you go about making them?

 

[Kittyhawk]

A P38 (kitted out for reconnaissance) crashed near here in 1944 - because of mechanical trouble - the pilot survived and lived to a ripe old age. I have found bits of the wreckage embedded in the ground and in local trees.

Fascinating, and it really epitomizes the P38. Once the bombing campaign cranked up reconnaissance became vitally important, and over 95% of all aerial photography was performed by the Lightning.
And then, the P38s Allison engines were unreliable and the pilots greatest fear was losing an engine especially at low altitude. I would imagine that an engine failure on any twin engined aircraft would be a bit of a nuisance but for the P38 it was pretty bad - the aircraft had the unfortunate habit of flipping over onto it back. The pilot had to feather the prop on the failed engine, reduce pitch and revs on the functioning engine to reduce torque, put the nose down a bit to keep up speed, roll the aeroplane back to right way up and then slowly increase rpm. So of course if this happened at low altitude it was pretty much all over. Your pilot was lucky to have survived.

Those look really good. What are the chances of you doing a wip as I’m sure many (me anyhow!) would love to see how you go about making them?

I have a couple of Mosquitoes under build at the moment, about half way through, one in Rimu and one in Kauri which the customer supplied. True blue Kiwis should genuflect and speak in hushed reverential tones when someone mentions Kauri. It is a national icon and an impressive tree growing to average 50m high and a girth of 15m. It's lifespan is average 2000 years but as a timber I detest it. Unstable, splitty and difficult to finish. There. I've said it. If there are any other NZers on this site I'm probably marked down for execution.
So i could put up some photos of the Mossies going forward But perhaps better to wait for the next build (a P51 Mustang) and do the thing from go to whoa?

 

[rafezetter]

Interestingly I've just noticed (it can take me a while sometimes lol) your avatar name is Kittthawk, but you don't have a Kitty Hawk in the lineup - another plane I think has beautiful lines (even if they were also underperforming).

 

[AES]

Yup, apparently, the P38s were a bit of a problem in Europe, although as you say, many were used for photo recce (as well as long-ish range - until the P51 Mustang came along) daylight bomber escorts.

The P40 Kitty Hawk was apparently also a bit of a problem, although like the early P51's (which had engines optimised for low-mid level performance - up to about 15,000 ft) the P40s did well in the desert campaign and I believe, were preferred by many pilots to the Hurricanes which they had earlier on (we're talking about ground support "Hurri-bombers" here, with 2 x 20 mm Hispano plus 2 x 500 lb or 4 x 250 lb bombs).

But your P38 models look superb Kittyhawk, thanks for posting the pix; and I'll +1 everyone above who has asked for a WIP (doesn't matter what type as far as I'm concerned).

 

[Jameshow]

I

Fascinating, and it really epitomizes the P38. Once the bombing campaign cranked up reconnaissance became vitally important, and over 95% of all aerial photography was performed by the Lightning.
And then, the P38s Allison engines were unreliable and the pilots greatest fear was losing an engine especially at low altitude. I would imagine that an engine failure on any twin engined aircraft would be a bit of a nuisance but for the P38 it was pretty bad - the aircraft had the unfortunate habit of flipping over onto it back. The pilot had to feather the prop on the failed engine, reduce pitch and revs on the functioning engine to reduce torque, put the nose down a bit to keep up speed, roll the aeroplane back to right way up and then slowly increase rpm. So of course if this happened at low altitude it was pretty much all over. Your pilot was lucky to have survived.

I have a couple of Mosquitoes under build at the moment, about half way through, one in Rimu and one in Kauri which the customer supplied. True blue Kiwis should genuflect and speak in hushed reverential tones when someone mentions Kauri. It is a national icon and an impressive tree growing to average 50m high and a girth of 15m. It's lifespan is average 2000 years but as a timber I detest it. Unstable, splitty and difficult to finish. There. I've said it. If there are any other NZers on this site I'm probably marked down for execution.
So i could put up some photos of the Mossies going forward But perhaps better to wait for the next build (a P51 Mustang) and do the thing from go to whoa?
View attachment 111222

I'll have a Lancaster please!!

Lovely models!

Cheers James

 

[Kittyhawk]

Here's a Kittyhawk and a Lancaster sitting on my coffee table. I get to enjoy it for a couple of days whilst waiting for the coating to harden up sufficiently to avoid packaging damage during delivery.

 

[mikej460]

I wish they were on my coffee table...

 

[Richard_C]

Back to P38s. I live near Duxford and used to go to most of the airshows - not so often now. 2008 had a horrible P38 crash, a well known display pilot killed. The last UK based flying P38. Anyway, I went on day 1 of the show, the programme only varies a little bit, and saw the P38 display faultlessly. I didn't go the next day when it happened.

There is no pleasure in this, but if you want to see a P38 display go badly wrong:



The official investigation was inconclusive:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422fff1ed915d1371000a61/dft_avsafety_pdf_501731.pdf
It could have been so much worse. After that they changed the diplay lines to keep it further from the public and changed the landing/take off procedures so you didn't have a bunch of other aircraft in more or less direct line during a display.

 

[skeetstar]

They are fantastic models, well done.
How long does it take to complete one?
How many have you made? Anymore pics, they are fabulous.

 

[kmcleod]

models are amazing,,,my uncle was on lancasters and mosquitos during WWII, loved the mosquito, and got to fly it on the way home quite often while the pilot was haviing a kip !

 

[Kittyhawk]

They are fantastic models, well done.
How long does it take to complete one?
How many have you made? Anymore pics, they are fabulous.

Thank you for your comments. Currently, total build number is a little over 40 models. I started out building Mk.Vb Spitfires on a semi production line basis but got pretty sick of it - too much like a regular job so I gave up building aeroplane models altogether. But then orders started coming in 'could you make me a so and so because my father/uncle /cousin flew one...' and this added a whole new dimension to the modelling business. There is an enormous pleasure and privilege in building aeroplanes to which the recipient has a personal connection. As examples I built a Corsair for the son of NZ's WW11 leading ace, an SR71 Bkackbird for a former pilot, an anti submarine version Wellington bomber for a man whose uncle disappeared in one whilst on patrol etc.
I would say that a single engined aeroplane on a 1:40 scale takes about 30 hours excluding oiling. This is quite a while but im only a hobbyist, I'm still learning and my work ethic is a bit chaotic.