Nothing special here…This is pretty much my first attempt at building a model. I tried one when I was around 10 years old and really didnt make it very far before something like a video game took my attention away. Anyways its now 16 years later and being a WW II enthusiast I thought id give it a go again…and well even though it didnt turn out that great…i love it. Ive since bought like 15 kits and have started my little stash up. Anyways this is a Monogram p-38 my mother bought me about 16 years ago…its pretty much sat in a hot memphis attic since then. It had some parts missing and well needless to say I think the heat may have warped some things…but i felt it would be good to practice on and make mistakes with this kit and it wouldnt matter. I also handpainted the model…New baby + no money = no airbrush. This forum has entertained me day and night now for a good month. There seems to be some really kind folks around here. Thanks for takin a look.
As you can see im Missing parts of the canopy. The fit was horrible. This is one of the parts im sure the heat mustve warped…but then again I have no idea what im doing so maybe thats the problem
I did some slight weathering…the flash of the camera seems to make it dissapear…you might be able to see allitle in this pic. It would also help if there were some recessed panel lines.
It looks like a P-38…that’s part of the battle to building a good model. Let me make some suggestions…get involved with a club near you…there are IPMS chapters around the country. The best way to learn how to be a better modeler is watch and do as others show you. Read. Read as much as you can…there are volumes of books on the subject of scale modeling. Magazines such as FSM are good reads too! Learn the basics of assembly first before tackling the advanced finishing techniques.
Cameras are your friend as well as your enemy when it comes to scale modeling. They show all of the mistakes you don’t see with the naked eye. Example:
The camera helps you spot the areas you need to address before pressing onward. Take a few minutes to read through this it will help. Be sure to ask questions…there are no stupid questions except the one you didn’t ask…that ended up being a disaster because you didn’t. Your kit does have fit issues…but a good modeler works to address those before moving along…test fit and adjust…test fit again and adjust…keep doing it until it is acceptable.
A confidence builder project would be for you to try building a Tamiya or Hasegawa 1:48 P-47…straight forward builds, good engineering and easy to assemble. You really can’t muck one up unless you try.
Build it naked…work your basic technique…find out where your weaknesses and your strengths are…work hard on improving both! Again ask for help…I’m here if you need me.
I agree fully with everything hawkeye just said and can only add that the national insignia on the upper wing surface is on the wrong wing, it goes on the top of the left wing and the bottom of the right wing.
Not bad for your first model. The old kit has enough fit issues on it’s own without being further complicated by warpage. For a brush paint job, you did well. When the budget allows, add an AB & compressor to your modeling arsenal. Thanks for sharing.
thanks alot for the advice…I will be sure to ask questions…although just from reading the tons of post in the past week ive found lots of answers…so hopefully on my next build I can improve. Im building the Tamaya zero…which from what I read is a pretty decent kit…fit wise. Thanks again for the tips.
Well if you had seen MY first model kit you’d not be knocking your first build quite so much. The important point is that you’ve voice a desire to ask questions to make your builds better. I second the suggestion that you find an IPMS chapter somewhere in your area. ipmsusa.org has a page with chapter locations around the country. The next thing I’d suggest is that you start attending local contests and talk to the head judge about shadowing the judges. You can also attend interesting workshops and lectures presented during the contests.
I would ask what type of adhesive you’re using? Try using the MEK-based plastic weld , Ambroid, Tenax, or others are available. They fuse the plastic together at the seam and make it much much easier to achieve good seams and alignment. They also dry quicker so you can continue with assembly faster. Finally I third or fourth voice the need to not proceed onto other steps until you’ve got the model correct at the step you’re at. I pull things apart many times in order to get things right at the time when I can make it right.
Good first start and good luck on the Tamiya Zero. That A6M2 is a great kit for (even today) a great price.
Definately good advice on the basics from Hawkeye! Just know that there are plenty of us who are still working on some of the basics of modelling here, so you are definately not alone. I for one am one of those- kinda one of the reasons I’m hee on FSM in the first place[:I]
But under the circumstances, I think you did well with the P-38! The older Monogram kits usually tend to take a little more work and care even without the issue of warpage while in storage. Not to worry about not owning an airbrush yet. Having a new baby in the house of course takes priority, but alot of times equipment like that usually isn’t mandatory. In the meantime if you can afford it, sometimes the ole’ rattlecans are not a bad way to go. I don’t know how good of a result you might be able to get while doing a NMF, but but a 2 or 3 color scheme as well as a camo finish can be done well if masked right. It all comes down to practice, and trial & error.
Congratulations on the first build in 16 years! I hope to see more[8D]
You certainly tackled one of the tougher finishes- all-metal with invasion stripes, and hand-painted a that! The more you build, the more you’ll discover little ways to improve with every build. This forum has been a great place for me to learn new things.
Main thing is have fun!
And congratualtions on the new baby.
Now go eat some of that great BBQ there in Memphis! [:D]
You picked some really difficult things for your first kit: tough kit, natural metal finish, twin engine airplane, etc. But my hat is off to you. You have to start somewhere and I think you did a nice job. As Gerald said, it certainly looks like a P-38, and in the end, that’s what you want.
My only “advice” would be to try a few single engine, “tail sitters” like a Mustang, Zero, Spitfire, Bf. 109, etc. As ou practice and improve your techniques, you’ll naturally want to move on to more difficult planes to build…like P-38’s![;)]
I hope this isn;t the last build either. I look forward to seeing what you have next!
Sure, its your first build. It may look rough. Heck, it may even qualify as a stinker (although you did better than that). BUT YOU DID IT, and you shared it here. I have done this hobby for as long as I can remember. I have been paid to do this. Even so, with EVERY KIT, I learn something new.
Yes, I think you probably had bad parts on top of a rough kit. Even so, you did a decent first time job. I don’t want to point out anything critical because you were fighting too many handicaps this time out. Make your next one a GOOD kit and I think you will see what you are really capable of. THEN we’ll pick you apart. [;)]
It looks alot better than my first build! You should be proud of those invasion stripes. It took me a while to get up the courage to try them. Also, congratulations on the new baby, I have a new one at home, myself.
Some excellent advice presented here already, not much I can add. Congratulations for finishing this kit, and sharing it with us. Seems you are also willing to take constructive criticism, a boon for sure. Welcome back to the hobby, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing you improve your skills.
Not a bad job after such a long respite! My favorite fighter plane too! I have 30 plus in my stash and have built around 20 planes. My first tank is on the bench right now. Cheers, Zar
Jim, she looks the part of a P-38 and you had fun, that’s the whole point of this hobby. Like everyone said, ask questions and keep at it. With each build you will improve.
Congrats on the new baby[party] Your first? My son is 4 now and I have to say it’s the greatest feeling in the world[:D]
Jim for your first build since you were ten you picked a tough kit. You did a remarkable job considereing first kit NMF and 2 engines. Take the criticism here and use it to your advantage. Ask any question you want here. I have been modeling for 30 years and I still make some very bonehead mistakes. Congrats on the new baby.
thanks everyone for the advice and kind words. I really think ive learned alot from this kit. So hopefully the next you will see some improvement. Being a first time father is a learning experience on its own…so starting this hobby now probably wasnt timed correctly…hahah. Well my patience is being tested on many fronts…so i can only be a better person for it. My daughter doesnt like to nap much during the day…10 minutes here…15 there…so i can run back to my bench and paint something really quick…then i hear her crying so i run back to her. So most of my modelling is done in 15 mins. Ahhh yes and I have a proper work area now. The p-38 was built on a cardboard box on the floor. For christmas i got a work bench, tools, paints and some kits. so on this next build ill just take my time and hopefully things will turn out better. Take care guys.
My first “real” build was a mere three years ago. I must’ve been a sadist because my first kit was the Revell F-106 Delta Dart. What did I know?? And when I finished it, I thought it looked great. I even had my friends come over to take a look at it. But now, I can’t believe I even built that piece of junk…It was the wrong shade of gray, I filled no seams (on the Revell F-106, can you imagine?), and I decaled it without using a glosscoat. I also didn’t paint the canopy frames. Well, I tried again a year later, and it looked much better, but still not good enough. I recently finished a third attempt, and this time I pretty much hit paydirt. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve reattempted about my first ten or so builds.
The amount of knowledge and skill I’ve gained over just the last three years has been staggering, and it’s due primarily to groups like this!
OOh…new dad and modeling at the same time…you’re a machine!!!
I did the same thing when my daughter was born…had to put the kit away until just recently…started out with a monogram P-51…Ahhhhhhhh…what a mess…horrible kit with fit issues and caused more headaches than I wanted…but used it to test some new techniques found on this site.
At the time, I had a tight budget as well so I bought a more expensive Hasegawa kit, took my time, read pointers on this forum and achieved some great results…Everyone here has your back and will lend a helping hand…
Remember…modeling now is not like when we were kids…get rid of the tube glue, save up for an airbrush and enjoy the ride!!
