AIRCRAFT OF THE WEEK (P-38 Lightning )

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Here it is the new aircraft of the week, the P-38 got a total of nine votes, wow[:0]
Remember to put pics of your P-38 models here or any interesting pics of the fighter you come across.


P-38 LIGHTNING

The Lightning was designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor. The first one built, the XP-38, made its public debut on February 11, 1939 by flying from California to New York in seven hours. Because of its unorthodox design, the airplane experienced “growing pains” and it required several years to perfect it for combat. Late in 1942, it went into large-scale operations during the North African campaign where the German Luftwaffe named it “Der Gabelschwanz Teufel”–“The Forked-Tail Devil.”
Equipped with droppable fuel tanks under its wings, the P-38 was used extensively as a long-range escort fighter and saw action in practically every major combat area of the world. A very versatile aircraft, the Lightning was also used for dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo reconnaissance missions.

TYPE
XP-38
XP-322 crashed 11 Feb. 1939
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-28.jpg

YP-38
Service test aircraft
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-2.jpg

P-38
YP-38 w/ 37mm cn. & 4 .50-cal. mgs.
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-3.jpg

XP-38A
P-38 40-762 w/ press. cp. & 20mm cn.

P-38B/C
B&C designators never assigned

P-38D
improved P-38; self-sealing fuel tanks
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-4.jpg

P-38E
improved P-38D; 20mm cannon
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-6.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-7.jpg Laminar flow wing

P-38F
improved P-38E; V-1710-49 & 53
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-8.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-9.jpg

P-38G
improved P-38F; V-1710-51 & 55
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-10.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-11.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38cp-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38cp-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38cp-3.jpg

P-38H
improved P-38G; V-1710-89 & 91
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-13.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-14.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-15.jpg Droop Snoop Prototype
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-16.jpg Droop Snoop
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-16.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-17.jpg

P-38J
improved P-38H
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-27.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-18.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-18.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-19.jpg

P-38K
P-38G 42-13558 w/ V-1710-75 & 77
None

P-38L-LO
improved P-38J; V-1710-111 & 113
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-21.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-22.jpg

P-38L-VN
Vultee-built P-38Ls
None

P-38M
P-38L mod. as night fighter
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-23.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38-20.jpg

SPECIFICATIONS (P-38L)
Span: 52 ft.
Length: 37 ft. 10 in.
Height: 12 ft. 10 in.
Weight: 17,500 lbs. loaded
Armament: Four .50-cal. machine guns and one 20mm cannon
Engines: Two Allison V-1710s of 1,475 hp. ea.
Cost: $115,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 414 mph
Cruising speed: 275 mph
Range: 1,100 miles
Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft.

SCALE MODEL REVIEWS
P-38 F
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/us/p38f.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/cleaver32p38h.htm

P-38J
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/us/72p38.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/wolfp38.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/blairp38.htm

P-38L
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/cleaver3238.htm

P-38M
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/sczep38m.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/cleaver3238m.htm

F-4A
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/us/f4a.htm

F-5E
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/kolf5e.htm

The skies the limit,

V.A.

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A fantastic airplane and there are many nice models of it around. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of them under construction or already built. A serious omission in my life.
VA, excellent summary again, as usual.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]

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yardbird78-Thanks for the comment. I am nearly in the same boat as you, I have built one Lightning kit and it was the Monogram one[banghead][xx(] That was the worst kit I have ever built, since then I have never atempted another P-38. But I wonder why I have two Monogram P-38s in my stash. hmmmmm well you never can have too many sources for parts I guess[;)]

The skies the limit,

V.A.

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Another excellent write up for the lead Post. Thanks for your efforts.

Regards, Rick

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Here’s my Acadmey 1/72 P-38J:

It’s one of the first models I did a good job on. As you can see, it’s missing a propeller blade and has some spots where the paint didn’t cover and I’ve touched up with black.

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VA, thanks for this. At the moment I’m working on Monograms P-38. It’s advertised as Ira Bongs J but it’s actually a late J or even an L. The early Js didn’t have the leading edge landing light or the hard points for the rockets under the wings. As far as the rockets and pylons that come with the kit, throw them as far away as possible, they’re inaccurate. Actually this kit, except for the fit problems and the lack of detail, is a decent kit. It includes parts to make the pathfinder, the P-38L, the P-38M and the F-5B. This kit is what I call a skill builder as you will excersise all of your skills to build it. Its definately not for the beginner or the faint of heart. I have a love/hate relationship with it.

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Vintage, thanks for the Teufel and all the links. My 1/48 Hase is out of the closet, again. And Sharkskin, I cut the bags this time…

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Vintage, you are really doing a great service to us here with these write-ups. Thanks!

As you can probably tell be my signature, the P-38 is way up there on my list of favorites. I thought I had seen every variation until I saw the pic of the “E” with the laminar flow wing. WHats up with that!?!?! What was the purpose of this, were they testing something? Why is the fuselage center pod elongated?

Thanks again

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sphealy, nice job on the Academy kit. I’ve got one on my bench & it’s a very nice kit.

Regards, Rick

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Look Here

Or maybe someone requested a Lightning for two to take his best gal for a ride now and again… hubba-hubba…

Fade to Black…

ETO Club Public Forums

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Nice job on the P-38. One nitpik. You put the propellers on the wrong engines. The #1 engine, pilot’s left, rotated clockwise as viewed from the front and the #2 engine rotated counter clockwise, the “normal” direction.

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

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Here’s my Hasegawa P-38J box stock except for photo etched belts. I’m currently working on Academy F-5E I’ll post some in progrss pics later this week.

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Very nice build Mark. Love those D-Day Invasion stripes, but hate doing them.

Regards, Rick

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Vintage - Keep up the great work on bringing us all this helpful information on these aircraft!! You are doing all of us a great service. I almost feel like singing…
Don’t give me a P-38
The props, they counter rotate
She’s smattered and smitten
From Burma to Britain
Don’t give me a P-38.

Oh, Vintage - If you are interested, I have the complete song that starts with the P-38 and ends with the F4C. If you want a copy, send me an email.

Oh, let me get in a vote for the YB-40 for next week - a B-17 vvariant.

Kurt

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Nice work V.A.

Thad

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mkhoot- I love the look of your lightning, probably one of the finest I have ever seen, really top notch job on that.

Missile068-I think Ill take you up on your offer, my E-mail is Classicplayer24@hotmail.com

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F-4C? Lemme guess… it has a reference to a “flying brick”, doesn’t it?

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I’d like to take a shot at this P-38 topic!

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Nice job of foiling, usaf ssgt. Looks very good.

Regards, Rick

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usaf ssgt I second what Rick said is that the Hasegawa kit.