New P-38 profile scratch build log

Nervous energy and rainy days kicking in , Good start Bob witch style did you decide to go with , I am not good at this but looks like maybe the P-38G ??

Thanks Yabby, I have videos that my son has taken (Cox Mercedes etc.) but I have no medium like Youtube to post them.  Probably just pictures until something better shows up.

And Eric, yes.  Nervious energy, got lot's of that with no more cut down tree left to burn it up with.  

And yes, big debate with myself G or J.  I like the smoothness of the G but the J  looks tougher.  With the side mount engines (Thanks Duane) I can do either if I mount the engines upright.  With my original I could mount them inverted with the head exposed and enough cylinder cooling from the inlet.  Never had a cooling problem with it.  5cc engines all enclosed for a more natural look.  

The wing will sit down in the fuselage booms, I have to cut the saddles for that.  With a scratch build it's always a worry getting the thrust line right. (Illustration above the screwdriver.)  Not like building from a kit where all the angles are built in.  The wing is actually two SIG airfoils cemented together.

Looking good Bob… The rounded corners of the pod look great!!….. Good you added the dihedral, A more scalish effect ….. Cool to see the original nearby for reference and inspiration…. Good memories from it too…. I do similar on some of mine….Coloring and decorating will be the fun part ….. Even better a little sky under its wings….

Looking good Bob , have you decided on a paint scheme yet?

Very good work Bob.

Do you think to add engine coolant radiators cut and rounded from thick balsa sheet?

I'm keeping this one simple Levent, just some elevator/aileron stock and some stand-off balsa pieces sanded to shape.



On the original, I made a buck for consistency among the four and pulled some wet 1/32" balsa over it.  Probably Ambroid but may have been epoxy, if it had been invented yet.    I never did add the shutters, thought they would just blow off.  The super-chargers - foam, brass tubing, string and bottle caps.  This one will probably be just dowels.





Doing the Beaver labels.  Heat gun and a pick easily removes the old ones.



I'm always open to suggestions for improvement.  The old "gray matter" isn't what it used to be.

I'm at that "That looks about right" stage.  

45 years ago I got close to scale, very close.  Today I don't have a clue but I press on.  I finally got the vertical stab/rudder's size about right.  I have to copy, size, and print from book sized plans because I can't draw.  Laying the fins out on 1/8" and sand to shape or until I'm happy.  

Cut-out the wing saddles. Guessed, looks close.  Over-wing piece will be airfoiled and somehow become the supercharger.  Still thinking about G or J styles.  

Still fun after all these years!

Somehow I got the wing at 29 1/2 inches, original is 26".  Don't ask me how!  I think I meant to cut it to size, I built the wing a couple of years ago.  Hundreds of thousands of brain cells have died since then.  I could cut it and do it now.  Not going to, more wing is better right!......



I think I have the last Army piece that Cox offered.  A tank on a flatcar.  Not sure, just know it's not a Sherman.  Abhrams maybe.  Not period correct with the rest.



Edit: Nope, not an Abhrams, no side armor. M-7 maybe.

It must be M47 Patton, produced between 1951-1954.



(Picture from https://tanks-encyclopedia.com)

I think that your right Levent. Thanks - that's a great picture.

rsv1cox wrote:

I'm always open to suggestions for improvement.  The old "gray matter" isn't what it used to be.

I can only hope I have as much later on in my life Robert..

roddie wrote:

rsv1cox wrote:

I'm always open to suggestions for improvement.  The old "gray matter" isn't what it used to be.

I can only hope I have as much later on in my life Robert..

Senior Moments roddie.  I have no idea!  It is supposed to be the same length and I never noticed it until yesterday.  Oh well.





As luck would have it, I cut the booms long thinking I could cut them to size later.  Looks like I have the fins too large also.  "Stand-off" scale, way stand off!

First application of sanding sealer, most will be sanded off then a second coat applied which makes a big difference.  

Still at it.  A little at a time fitting it in around other things.

Crash landing.........actually just gathering for final sanding bfore assembly




I'm not a detail guy, I can hardly draw a line to outine/paint the greenhouse.  But, I can cut out this cockpit and glue it on then protect with clear.........maybe?  It's the same template that I used to cut-out the pilots pod. Black line on top, silver for the windshield on the balsa.

I like that idea on the canopy Bob, Maybe shade it a little with a blue high lighter before you add clear over it?…. Only thing is you’ll need both a right and a left if you don’t already have it….. If you need it mirrored I bet Levent could work some magic on it….

rdw777 wrote:I like that idea on the canopy Bob, Maybe shade it a little with a blue high lighter before you add clear over it?…. Only thing is you’ll need both a right and a left if you don’t already have it….. If you need it mirrored I bet Levent could work some magic on it….

That's my concern Robert trying to figure out how to reverse an image on my computer/printer.  I'm a computer illiterate.

I talked to my son, he says he will do it. Does it all the time with print media. I sent him a scan.

Glued it this morning, for better or worse. Fins, landing gear, bell-crank, elevator to go. Fun stuff.

The Lightning is looking great, Bob!

For a mirror image copy, try a print shop.
Many copiers now have a mirror image print capability.

duaneh wrote:The Lightning is looking great, Bob!

For a mirror image copy, try a print shop.
Many copiers now have a mirror image print capability.

Thanks Duane, but my son came up with it.  - Bob



Leaning toward this paint scheme. Silver has been over-done.

thats a beautiful paint scheme


if ya bored? here is another

http://www.warbird.com/lefty.html

white lightning. was brilliant. now a red bull plane

Hi Bob, I can make Tangerine nose decal and canopy decal. If you want then please send scanned 1:1 front fuselage sheet by e-mail.

I meant that 1:1 plan page

Thanks Levent,  I have searched WW2 nose art and P-38 nose art to no avail.  I appreciate this, your decals always make my models.  

Scan 1:1  Whoops, not doing it.  Maybe you can scale it up.  Pod is 10 5/8"

Message sent




Bob

I'm going to make it and will send A4 page here. It is best to print decals on clear vinyl A4 sheet because no need to cut all lettering one by one. If you also have chrome adhesive back decal sheet it will be good for a more realistic canopy. I also make a blue grey shade canopy decals on one A4 page if you don't have chrome sheet.

If you don't have clear vinyl sheet or chrome sheet, then please let me know, I can print and send decals to your address at no cost but need to wait about ten days by airmail

Levent Suberk wrote:I'm going to make it and will send A4 page here. It is best to print decals on clear vinyl A4 sheet because no need to cut all lettering one by one. If you also have chrome adhesive back decal sheet it will be good for a more realistic canopy. I also make a blue grey shade canopy decals on one A4 page if you don't have chrome sheet.

If you don't have clear vinyl sheet or chrome sheet, then please let me know, I can print and send decals to your address at no cost but need to wait about ten days by airmail

Thanks Levent.  PM sent.

I finally got around to doing the vertical stab/rudders.  Thinking going Ken's route and not putting in any deflection.  I didn't put hardly any in the original and it hung out on the lines pretty good.  A couple of shims on the outside of each engine ought to do the job.  




Bob

It's looking good Bob , with the decals Levent are making for you will really bring out the glory in the P-38 ! Want be far from doing the engines , should bee fun .

Hey Robert! You know I'm liking this build! I wouldn't be too concerned about the wingspan difference. Mine's the same (26") as your 1st model.. but you're only talking 1.5" more/panel on this one.. and with a scale-like taper out to the tips.. I'm thinking that it's gonna' be more stable overall. A pair of healthy "Black Widow's" would give some extra oomph.. as compared to the Golden Bee's. That's always a plus.

I'm going to PM you with some other comments.