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World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
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Lockheed P38L Lightning
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 10:11 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel, i missed a lot of progress, your Lightning looks fine !
really great work, i am using Eduards masking sets too, they
are worth the money.
Did i said you can put extra weight in the spinners ? good luck with the stand anyway.

Best
Bernd


Bernd,
I plan on using a lot more of Eduard's masking sets for every build unless the windscreen and canopy is so simple it doesn't pay.

What I said was that you suggested that I could stuff some weight into the spinners, which is now another viable option as I stuffed all I could get into the nose section.

This is my 1st complete NMF, and I'm on shaky ground. Fortunately for me, my brother has built 3 1/32 Tamiya P-51Ds with a museum finish to guide me through the process. The difference will be that I don't want a super shiny museum look. I want the P-38L to have a well maintained operational look to it.

Joel
matrixone
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Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 11:04 PM UTC
That's looking very nice Joel, good luck with your NMF on it.


Matrixone
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 11:50 PM UTC
Les,
Thanks. I'm more then just a little concerned about screwing it up.
Joel
Dragon164
#226
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British Columbia, Canada
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 06:10 AM UTC
Looking Good! Joel.

Some inspiration, here is my Academy P-38 I built for the Fighters Campaign. This was also my first NMF.

Cheers Rob.

fightnjoe
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 06:48 AM UTC
Joel I am humbled, you are a very talented modeler. Your 38 is very crisp and very clean. I had heard horrible rumors about the fit of the wheel wells on most of these kits and that is why the one that I have is still in the box. I am embarrassed to say that I had missed it to this point. No more however.



Joe
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 07:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Looking Good! Joel.

Some inspiration, here is my Academy P-38 I built for the Fighters Campaign. This was also my first NMF.

Cheers Rob.


Rob,
Outstanding!! A most impressive build. How did you create your MNF?
Joel
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 07:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Joel I am humbled, you are a very talented modeler. Your 38 is very crisp and very clean. I had heard horrible rumors about the fit of the wheel wells on most of these kits and that is why the one that I have is still in the box. I am embarrassed to say that I had missed it to this point. No more however.
Joe


Joe,
Thank you very much for those most kind words. But my talents are no where near yours.

And yes, the wheel wells are horrendous, but with work one can get them to fit reasonably well. Even then then double thickness of plastic is a non fixable issue.
Joel
Dragon164
#226
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 07:53 AM UTC
Thanks Joel!

Alclad II Aluminum (101) over a grey base.

Cheers Rob.
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 08:18 AM UTC
Rob,
Interesting. I'm going with a Gloss Black base and #101. Panel variations will be #100 & #103, Not sure how I'm going to deal with the turbo panels yet. Thinking that Magnesium might be the way to go. Of course, I haven't given the turbos themselves the slightest thought.
Joel
Redhand
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Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 06:40 PM UTC
Very interesting. I subscribed. Huge progress so soon after finishing the A-6. I haven't built this kit, but did do a Hasegawa P-38 a few years ago (nothing to write home about). So I will follow this avidly. I like the wheel wells. You may be sucking me into something similar on my 17.
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 07:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Very interesting. I subscribed. Huge progress so soon after finishing the A-6. I haven't built this kit, but did do a Hasegawa P-38 a few years ago (nothing to write home about). So I will follow this avidly. I like the wheel wells. You may be sucking me into something similar on my 17.


Brian,
Thanks, and welcome along for the ride.

The kit wheels look like toys compared to the resin AM parts.

I usually start a new build within a week or so of completing a project, as I've already picked a subject, did the basic research, bought the kit, and some AM parts as needed.

Joel
Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 02:37 AM UTC
Not much of an update. Just about ready to air brush on the Alcad Gloss Black enamel base coat. 1st the undersides, then 24 hours later the topside.

Spent the last few hours cutting out the Quickboost resin turbo charges and the Ultracast wheels. Just a huge improvement over the kit parts.

The Turbos are correctly shaped as the base around the fans aren't round. The exhausts have more scale definition and greater detail. Same for the fans themselves.





The kit wheels suffer from the same issues that most kits wheels do; poor or no tread pattern, and the wheels have soft or missing details. The Ultracast wheels are a major upgrade.



Joel
berndm
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Niedersachsen, Germany
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Posted: Monday, November 17, 2014 - 12:56 PM UTC
Hi Joel, i agree, the parts are an improvement, both of my unbuild Lightnings have rubber tyres and need replacement.
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Monday, November 17, 2014 - 06:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel, i agree, the parts are an improvement, both of my unbuild Lightnings have rubber tyres and need replacement.


Bernd,
I've yet to see any rubber tires that look better then plain old kit molded tires. As they scale them down, it's just impossible to mold in the crisp detail that we're looking for. Resin AM parts is surely the way to go.
Joel
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2014 - 02:19 AM UTC
Work continues at a snail's pace, slowly I'm inching the build forward. Late last week I applied the Alcad Gloss Black Base coat over a two day period. Then after letting it dry for a few days, I needed to rub it out as it just wasn't smooth enough. Using Micro Mesh pads the base coat just wouldn't polish out to a really smooth surface.

So I did a few Google searches, and it seems that a lot of builders just don't like the stuff, and prefer either Humbrol, or Model Master enamel Gloss Black. Just might go that route next time. For some strange reason, I either just forgot to take some pictures, or thought that I did, but didn't. So I have no pictures of P-38L wearing all Black.

Today is Alcad Aluminum 101 base color day. I airbrushed on the Alcad #101 2-3 inches from the surface at a acute angle using aobut 8 psi or so flow rate. I started on the bottom laying on light, even coats of Alcad, and slowly building it up to the magic point where it turns to look like Aluminum. Then I shot the gear doors, drop tanks, and spinners, then turned over the P-38 and shot the topside.

Overall I satisfied with the look of the base Aluminum color, as it looks like metal, but not very shiny, as I'm trying for a more operational looking aircraft.







Next up is masking and air brushing on the O.D. Anti Glare panels on the nose and both engine nacelles, then start masking and painting the various panels.

Joel
fightnjoe
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 01:44 AM UTC
Neat work with the Alclad. I seem to have issues with large objects, when it comes to the small stuff I have it down, maybe, but for the large stuff I end up with a crappy looking finish.




Joe
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 02:12 AM UTC
Joe,
My finish is far from super smooth. I didn't want a high gloss, but I wanted it smoother. This morning I rubbed it out with a soft old T shirt, and the Alcad smoothed out quite a lot. Next project (P-47D bubble late next year), I'll be doing the Alcad somewhat differently.

The key is a silky smooth primer, then a glass like Black base coat. I used Mr. Color 1,000 primer, and it dries too fast to get a really smooth surface. I did polish it out, but now I don't think I got it smooth enough. I have much better results with Tamiya Gray surface primer for this type of application.

Joel
fightnjoe
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 02:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Joe,
My finish is far from super smooth. I didn't want a high gloss, but I wanted it smoother. This morning I rubbed it out with a soft old T shirt, and the Alcad smoothed out quite a lot. Next project (P-47D bubble late next year), I'll be doing the Alcad somewhat differently.

The key is a silky smooth primer, then a glass like Black base coat. I used Mr. Color 1,000 primer, and it dries too fast to get a really smooth surface. I did polish it out, but now I don't think I got it smooth enough. I have much better results with Tamiya Gray surface primer for this type of application.

Joel


Joel it looks smooth from here. My Alclad work ends up grainy, almost sandpaper like. I have tried a nice smooth gloss black and still end up with grainy. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong.



Joe
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 03:30 AM UTC
[quote
Joel it looks smooth from here. My Alclad work ends up grainy, almost sandpaper like. I have tried a nice smooth gloss black and still end up with grainy. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong.
Joe[/quote]

Joe,
It's a lot smoother now, just not a deep shine that I don't want.

If your base coat is glass like smooth, just light, easy passes with your air brush at a 6-8psi flow rate, and try to keep the shooting angle about 30 degrees or so.

Joel
Merlin
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AEROSCALE
#017
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 01:48 PM UTC
Hi Joel

Really nice job! What's the painting stand you're using - it looks very useful.

All the best

Rowan
Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 10:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel

Really nice job! What's the painting stand you're using - it looks very useful.

All the best

Rowan


Rowan,
Thanks so much for your most kind words.

The stand is by JH models that I got from UMM USA. They make 4 different versions, two are actually for bi-planes. The stand does make it much easier to paint, decal, and work on adding small parts as it frees up both of your hands. Unfortunately, the Carpet Monster still has a field day in my model room.

Joel
Merlin
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Posted: Friday, November 21, 2014 - 12:39 AM UTC
Cheers Joel

I'll check them out.

All the best

Rowan
berndm
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Niedersachsen, Germany
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Posted: Friday, November 21, 2014 - 08:12 PM UTC
Hi Joel, it seems i missed a lot, great paintwork !
Never tried Alclad, looks very tasty.Maybe a good inspiration
to touch some aircraft shaped plastic again.
For a wartime P-38 its a bit shiny, i guess the result will be a perfect P-38 !

Best
Bernd
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Saturday, November 22, 2014 - 07:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel, it seems i missed a lot, great paintwork !
Never tried Alclad, looks very tasty.Maybe a good inspiration
to touch some aircraft shaped plastic again.
For a wartime P-38 its a bit shiny, i guess the result will be a perfect P-38 !

Best
Bernd


Bernd,
You better get back to the bench soon for your plastic fix.

The P-38L will be somewhat shiny, but not factory fresh either. Will be doing some weathering to tone it down, but to much, and it starts to look more like paint then aluminum.

Joel
Joel_W
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Posted: Saturday, November 22, 2014 - 11:52 PM UTC
Another small update as I airbrushed on Tamiya Acrylic XF-62 Olive Drab for the three anti glare panels. The contrast of the flat panels verses the gloss of the Alcad surfaces is more then what I'm looking for, as I'm depicting a well maintained operational aircraft. Hopefully, the washes after decaling will help to tone it down a bit.





I also masked off the center panels of the outer wings, and the main section of the horizontal tail surface, and air brushed Alcad Dark Aluminum to help break of the monotone appearance of just the plain #101 Aluminum. Up close the variation in color is much easier to see, but with the lighting for the pictures, not so much.





Joel


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