Greetings all. I hope you all had a great turkey day. I thought I’d share this quick project I threw together (along with an Il-2 Stormovick). I thoroughly enjoyed Tamiya’s F/G/H P-38, so when they announced their J version, I couldn’t wait to build one. Over the years I’ve done several Hasegawa abominations so I figured I revisit a subject I did with that kit . That would be the markings of Robin Olds’ “Scat II” while with the 479th FG around D-Day. Olds was a 12 kill ace (8 in the P-38) and on August 25th 1944, he actually shot down a Bf109 while in glide mode. He was closing in on the 109 and both his engines quit because he forgot to flip the switches to the other fuel tanks. He gave the 109 a belly full of lead which then sent it down in flames. He then restarted his engines and continued about his business. He would later score 4 Mig kills in Vietnam as well.
As stated, the kit is brilliantly engineered. Like the Hasegawa kit, I had trouble with the nose gun bays fitting right. I had large gaps to fill and then rescribe. I’m guessing I messed something up as I don’t recall these issues on my previous builds of this subject. The way it goes sometimes. I added Ultracast wheels and PE seatbelts. I extended the front gear leg slightly with sprue to give the plane that classic backwards rake commonly seen on parked P-38s. Everything but the Scat II decal was painted on. I used Kits World decals which were horrible and disintegrated in water. I was lucky to salvage the Scat decal. Perhaps I got a bad sheet. It’s my understanding that Olds waxed his planes for extra speed, but shiny is not my style and would not look right on a scale model. I made it look “warbird appropriate” with chipping in the proper areas and plenty of dirt. Paint was AK real colors and Tamiya. Weathering was done with Ammo/Mig enamel washes.
Lawdog 114, You knocked it out of the park on this build! This is officially my favorite build of 2022. Fantastic weathering and paint chipping! I agree with your “Warbird” approach. Do you have plans to do his P-51 & F-4 ? The best part is that I’ve often wanted to build the aircraft that Robin Olds flew in his career.
There are invasion stripes and then there are invasion stripes! Home run on this one LD. I continue to admire your weathering and have to start getting more serious with the hairspray technique. Congrats. Love it.
What a fine tribute to such an outstanding gentleman as the General. In my mind he defines the terms loyal and brave, his service will always be remembered as exemplary.
He was a passenger on one of my flights out of DFW, as I recall he was still an imposing figure with his trademark “stache.” The First Officer knew quite a lot of his military history, he said Olds was regarded with the utmost respect by his junior pilots. One description was that he needed a large sling in his shorts, to keep his huge _alls from dragging as he walked.
Your build of the model of his airplane is to your usual standards, just as good as it gets. Thanks for the post and photos.
Thanks Brian. I’ve been experimenting with spatter templates lately. Basically you throw down the original color first, lighten it, then use the template to add the splotchy appearance. The dirty effect is an enamel filter.
Thanks Tom. I do and have decals for all of them. I’ve already done his P-51 once already. I’m hoping Tamiya comes out with a C Phantom as I believe it was different from the B they currectly offer. I’m no F-4 expert.