Chip's "Ace" build...a little Pudgy.***Finished***

[Molly-new]

My plan for this year (one of many ) is to build as many of my Airfix "WWII Aircraft of the Aces" collection as possible, this being the first one.

This is the P38 H Lightening as flown by Major Thomas B McGuire, 431st Fighter Squadron, in the pacific theatre during WWII.

This is the second of his regular Lightnings, named "Pudgy", and carries 17 of his victory markings as at May 1944.

Looking at the previously built kits in the Gallery it seems to be a popular kit to build, so no pressure then.

For those that haven't built one yet, here is the box art and contents:



Instructions:



Sprues





The kit has got a severe dose of rivetitus, so the first dilemma is whether to sand down and re-scribe, or leave as is? My intention with this collection is to build all OOB but these rivets are quite excessive. Any views/comments on this are welcome.

[Jagewa]

Don't know how riveted the kit is, but for the Devastator I did, ( the last Airfix kit I can remember doing ) I sanded them back quite a bit, just left a ghost of them. I'm not a confident panel scriber, and the thought of doing a whole kit, gives me the willies..

[Chris]

Chip, the P-38 airframe had no raised rivets at all, it was a very smoothe airplane. Scribing probably isn't needed but a rivetectomy may be.

[Molly-new]

Thanks Chris, I thought as much from the on-line research that I have done. Not sure why the airframe is this bad then:







I reckon a trip to B&Q rather than the model shop for sandpaper is in order

[Brickie]

Rivets are what counted as detail back then...

[Jagewa]

Go careful handling that kit, you'll sandpapering yourself with those rivets...

[Molly-new]

Not much to show on this, but I have made a start on the rivets. I have decided to "knock them back a bit" rather than remove them all together as it would just create far too much work.

I have also started painting the cockpit and pilot, but no pictures yet. The instructions call for a clear part to be used for the formation lights;



But it refuses to fit, so I am going with plan "B", and have simply filled the holes with PVA:



These will be painted the respective colours later in the build.

[Molly-new]

The formation light idea will work:



I have made a start on construction by painting and building up the cockpit:



OOB apart from the painted tape seat-belts APTN.

[Titan]

It's not a bad kit for it's age, but remember that if it's on it's wheels then you are going to have to pack it well with nose weight to stop it sitting on it's tail.
As Chris said the P-38 didn't have rivets so sand them back it will look a lot better for it.

Regards
Mark

[Jagewa]

Nice, the lights look great, a top idea.

Cheers
Jim

[Martin R]

Chip,

I like the authentic USAAF colours on the pilot. Nicely done.

regards,

Martin

[Molly-new]

It's not a bad kit for it's age, but remember that if it's on it's wheels then you are going to have to pack it well with nose weight to stop it sitting on it's tail.
As Chris said the P-38 didn't have rivets so sand them back it will look a lot better for it.

Regards
Mark

Thanks Mark, I have put some lead in the nose section, and will add a bit more to the canon housing. I have read that weight is often added to the front of the engine nacelles as well but I am a bit worried about the weight and the plastic undercarriage not being strong enough to hold it.



Having started construction I agree that those rivets have got to go.

I like the authentic USAAF colours on the pilot.

Thanks Martin, unfortunately he won't be seen much due to the heavy canopy framing. Oh well...

[Titan]

I have read that weight is often added to the front of the engine nacelles as well but I am a bit worried about the weight and the plastic undercarriage not being strong enough to hold it.

Yep I did that and it does has make the model quite a hefty weight, but mine was made nine years ago and it is still standing and looks just the same as the day I made it, fear not and wack it in there...you know it makes sense.

regards
Mark

[Molly-new]

After sanding back all the rivets (that is an hour of my life that I will never get back ) I fitted the tail booms on only to discover that the starboard one is twisted:



Any ideas on how to correct this?

[Jagewa]

Oh, that's cute, it's wagging it's tail... it happy to see you, good little Pudgy..

That looks a pain to fix Chip.

Cheers
Jim