The tale of three P-38 Lightnings...Matchbox, Monogram and Academy.

rtfoe

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Here is the fun part of seat belts...attaching them to the seats in the cockpit.

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The belts were secured down with CA.

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Monogram has given locating pins and holes for the canopy which can either be good or bad depending on the mating cast accuracy. This however is because of the complex 5 part assembly of the canopy which I have negated by attaching them altogether so I can remove the tabs and adjust the fit accordingly.

Cheers,
Richard
 

JR

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Envious comes to mind !
 

rtfoe

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Thanks guys,

Ok, masked canopy on, scribing done and proceeded with priming.

486824.jpg

Good old Mr Surfacer will give the surface a good bite for the base paint and reveal any blemishes...

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Speak of the devil...gaps filled sanded and re-scribed...

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The detachable door molding posed real gap problems that a shim or two can't fix.

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Fit issues addressed...the ridge sanded down.

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Tail boom joint addressed as well.

488740.jpg

Cheers,
Richard
 

Jim R

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Hi Richard
Your filling, sanding and rescribing is coming on a treat. Mind you with this kit you are getting plenty of practice.
Jim
 

rtfoe

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Jim and Scottie, thanks and tell me about it, I horned my scribing with this kit. :smiling2:

After the prime coat I did a light coat of preshade. I wasn't sure how the PRU paint would react...

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The I prepared the bottom half with white for the D-Day stripes that were by this time mostly removed from the top sides. In the process I broke off the pitot tube...

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Masked off the whites to recieve the black with the help of a divider for precise measurements of each stripe....

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Black applied and masked off as shown in the next picture on the boom...

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When the stripes were covered I painted the undersides aith neutral grey

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As the PRU blue continued across the fuselage belly and boom I protected the grey painted areas of the wing with masking.

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Looks like all is about ready for the PRU Blue paint.

Cheers,
Richard
 

rtfoe

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What was amazing was that I had PRU blue in my paint stash which wasn't open for many years. The contents were checked and still usable.

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Being enamel I misted a layer to see if there was any reaction to the earlier paints and fillers I used. There was non so I did two light coats and the pre-shade still showed through.

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I did a gradual spray from blue to gray. These planes didn't have stark differentiation between the top and bottom.

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After removing the masking I checked for any paint lifts

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So far all looked good only a bit of green on the oleo. The slight hint of pre-shading can be seen. This method is so easy to control the amount you want to have which gives the illusion that you have painted a few shades of the base paint.

490818.jpg

Cheers,
Richard
 

Steven000

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Great work on these models Richard, looks very nice :thumb2:
Cheers, Steven
 

yak face

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looking real nice now richard, cheers tony
 

adt70hk

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Looking rather good!!!!
 

Si Benson

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I’m a bit late to the party but I’ve had a catch up and must say your making a lovely job of these Richard :thumb2:
 

rtfoe

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Thank you gentlemen, I have to tell you that these 3 lightning builds were done a while back and am sharing it in line with the Lightning GB.

494641.jpg

Did some panel variation darkened PRU blue...

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Then painted the props...

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Sanded the tyres to look flattened by weight...

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Painted in a dark wash to the hub...

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Then painted Nato Black for the tyres

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Cheers,
Richard
 

Jim R

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Hi Richard
Looking great. All the masking has worked so well. Your pre-shades always work so well. I have noticed that on other builds. I have decided to have another go on my helicopter build. My new H&S airbrush has a limiter for pulling back the needle so maybe I'll have better control and not simply obliterate the pre-shade :thinking:
Jim
 

rtfoe

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Hi Jim thanks. I work with thinned paint and apply in layers until the desired effect.

Here is the coat of paint before varnishing...

494643.jpg

After a coat of Future varnish the tone has taken a slightly darker hue. I have also removed the masking before the varnish has crystalised to leave a sharp edge to the frame.

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The its to the superchargers with a base of red brown and then washed with burnt umber and then dry brushed with steel...

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I stained the surround of the supercharger with desert yellow and burnt umber.

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Decals were applied and a further layer of varnish applied to seal in the decals

497068.jpg


Cheers,
Richard
 

Jim R

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Hi Richard
Looking superb as always. That canopy masking is spot on.
Jim
 
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