P-38 hitting on all cylinders

Contra-rotating propellers! I think those were only used on the very early planes.

Lol that messed with my eyes

Some darn good brakes and noticed the chock on the right gave way due to prop blast, I was waiting
to see if the rubber would start sliding.

Looking up the P-38 registry, it explains all the owners and history of the remaining 38's. Incredibly though, many suffered a bad fate. Even the restored aircraft have a very high rate of engine failure and crashes. Some capable and currently under construction but sadly, they have been relinquished to scrap or display. I have seen one up close and it's a very amazing plane. I recall Kelly Johnson being one of the chief designers of the aircraft. What a amazing person from this design to the SR-71 and everything in between. We will never see anything like this again.

1/2A Nut wrote:Lol that messed with my eyes

Some darn good brakes and noticed the chock on the right gave way due to prop blast, I was waiting
to see if the rubber would start sliding.

Yes, at the 3:34 mark.  The prop blast on the tree behind it was interesting too.  Thanks for posting CB, it's a keeper.

I managed to get up close and personal with this one at an air show at Patuxent River Maryland back in the 70's.





Found it here by tail number.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38registry/p38-4453095.html

The P-38 has always been one of my favorite airplanes. This thread makes me want to build one. Something simple though.. like a 28" span, sheet-wing/profile C/L model for a pair of "Cox" reed-valve .049 engines.

A worthy project roddie, but build two one profile and one scale.

Your diagram, fourth picture down looks just like the schematic that I used to build mine. Just get out the calipers do the math and build one.

Mine is as close to scale as I could get it except for the cockpit module. I was constricted in size by the canopy I had on hand. Today I would just build a scale mold and heat and pull some clear plastic over it. Also I would take the plan down to Kinko's or Staples and have it blown up a little to come even closer to the full scales dimensions.

Bob

Found this old training vid also, the pilot is wearing white socks and Bostonian Wing Tips when it shows him using the rudder peddles.

Love the video !!!
Back in 2005, I was attending a multi day trade convention in Palm Springs, CA and we had a couple of free afternoons.
I spent one of my afternoons at the Palms Springs Air Museum and Airport.
My first impression was that the gatekeeper at the museum site was real German Flak 36 88mm gun !!!
After a while, there began to be a crowd forming and a lot noise outside at the parking ramp.
Seems everybody was waiting for a P-38 to land that was making the short hop (for a P-38 ) from the Chino, CA air museum.
It showed up right on time and was amazingly impressive with both Allisons in full song !!!!
Only two Merlins would have topped it !!!
Of course we got a lot of time to walk around it at the parking !!
Gotta say..... Probably the most remembered convention ever !!!!
Steve......................

roddie wrote:The P-38 has always been one of my favorite airplanes. This thread makes me want to build one. Something simple though.. like a 28" span, sheet-wing/profile C/L model for a pair of "Cox" reed-valve .049 engines.  

If its any consolation roddie, I have a few p-38 plans available if you like. A couple are actually control line, Sterling built up wing for 2 Cox reedies is one of them...... If you are interested, send me a PM and I can get them to you.

NEW222 wrote:

roddie wrote:The P-38 has always been one of my favorite airplanes. This thread makes me want to build one. Something simple though.. like a 28" span, sheet-wing/profile C/L model for a pair of "Cox" reed-valve .049 engines.  

If its any consolation roddie, I have a few p-38  plans available if you like. A couple are actually control line, Sterling built up wing for 2 Cox reedies is one of them...... If you are interested, send me a PM and I can get them to you.

Chancey.. I may take you up on that.. but I've always enjoyed drawing-out my own designs. I think that I'll give this a shot "by eye".. and see what happens. Thanks for the offer though.

While this video doesn't show close up, I built this twin Mustang for my son. Two Fox .35's, it's a biggun at nearly 70 inch wingspan weighing 83 ounces. Based on a Midwest Mustang, I modified the fuse sections and made a center wing section. Dan's P-38 uses 2 Enya .35's, 74" wingspan and is slightly heavier at 91 ounces. Rusty took this video and I recently remembered it. I like it when they stack them at 2 minutes into the video. Unfortunately, we were a bit pressed for time during this as we were leaving and got in this quick flight. I wish there were more maneuvering but it was fun stuff. My son Shawn and Dan flying the big twins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-LRl6y9MP0

The beginning shows a closeup of Dan's P-38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPUQ2MPhYCM

The thought of building a 1/2A C/L P38 has been eating at me. When the feeling is this strong.. it usually results in an airplane being built. It's not like I think about it constantly throughout the day.. but rather when I settle-in for a night's rest. It's then where there's less distraction. Much of my designing/building happens in my head. Those thoughts can get quite abstract.. as I drift-off to sleep.

My decision to build a P-38 is not a new one. I actually have two different unbuilt P38 kits.. but building from "scratch" and by "eye" is something that gives me more satisfaction. Studying drawings.. calculating/converting measurements for scaling is an enjoyable part of the process for me. This will be a profile model; having a sheet-wing. I plan to incorporate a hardwood strip-spar into the wing to add strength.. as well as a possible mounting-provision for a bellcrank and possibly gear-struts.

I'm currently in the process of scaling the design. I'm basically at 1/2"= 1'... which equates to a 26" wingspan and 19" O/A length.