These are two very well executed and very beautiful aircraft. I was very interested to see the light gray leading edge on Dick Bong’s P-38. I never picked this up on any of the photographs of this plane, what was your reference?
By the way, do you build models or are you just a web host for a bunch ?
I’m with steve…
This isn’t a criticism by any means…I’m curious too…where did you get the info for the grey leading edge? It’s a bloody nice looking model (well done), and Bong’s Marge has always interetsed me.
Always nice to see a Bong P-38-esp in that scale. I’ve been to his hometown many times (Poplar, Wisconsin) and there’s a P-38 on a concrete pylon on the city limits ( not his of course). Yes, it’s been vandalized.
Many thanks for all your kind comments and compliments! they’re very encouraging!
I believe Mr. Jakkraphad who built the P-38L had researched well for the color of the
leading edges and the plane as a whole. He has an extensive bunch of information
and collection of airplanes (much bigger than mine in the fields of airplanes). I’ll ask
him for the color pictures of real airplanes and will let you know later. Though it was
built out of the box, he modified the flaps, ailerons and rudders so that they’re in
‘working’ conditions. It has to be noted that the Bong’s Marge decals were NOT supplied
by Trumpeter, they’re old decals of an old P-38 in the same scale (I can’t remember its
brand) that he has kept for over 10 years.
Steve, I’m a modeler turned collector. I’m the owner of ALL the models shown on my
site (with the exception of Tamiya’s Tiger 1:16) which is probably one of the largest
military model collections in the world, and one of the most beautiful as well. To see
all my collection in its natural setting, you’ll have to view these pages :
Apart from taking all the pictures and creating all the web pages, I’m paying $250/year
renting 25+500 MB webspace to host my site and make it banner-free for all interested
modelers worldwide to view my collection.
I AM IMPRESSED!!! You should open a museum for the public to view your models. I am also impressed with your web site. It is the first time I’ve seen it. Keep up the good work!
Tom, many thanks for your kind compliments on my collection and web site!
My web site is like an on-line museum where modelers worldwide can view, and I have a plan for traditional museum too. [;)]
I just called up Jakkraphad asking for the pictures which he used as reference in building the P-38L. He said he got 20-30 color pictures from the web and he wondered why you guys couldn’t find them. He would send them to me and I’ll post a few later as a proof.
The Marge decals were from Revell’s kit he had kept for 20 years, not just 10+ !
He also has built for many collectors. He loves building models. Once built, he’s
satisfied and doesn’t care much about their whereabouts. Could you imagine
a modeler who loves a plane (Bong’s P-38), made a well research on it, built its
model the best he could, used rare, 20-year-old decals on it, and once finished,
offered it to a friend (Lucky me!) at friendship price?. I think he’s a rare type of
modeler, a real generous one!
PS. Apart from the 3 kits in this page, my collection includes his other works:
Trumpeter’s MiG-3 1:32
Trumpeter’s Mi-24 V Hind E 1:32
Revell’s H.M.C.S. Snowberry - Flower Class Corvette 1:72
Here are just a couple from my collection, with Bong and his “Marge” during his war bond tour. His actual aircraft was recalled with him. You can clearly see the cockpit shot shows NO gray on the leading edge and cockpit frame, nor on the ammo door covers. I think your guy has misinterpereted the photos in that he has mistaken white aluminum for gray. In the pacific theater, it was very common for leading edge aluminum skin to become almost pale, giving a bleached effect. You will note in the painting the absence of all that gray, I doubt a well known aviation artist, (Morris Graves) who miticulously researches his subjects, would omit such a glaring feature as a not mil-spec gray.
In addition, being ex-military, I think the most obvious clue that this paint is incorrect is Why? Why would a crew chief go to all that trouble to paint gray panels in the field? Where would you get the non issue light gray paint in a combat zone in the Pacific?, It especially doesn’t make sense when you see that it even shows up around the boom intakes.
Additionally, if you look closely at the photos, you will see that the victory flags are totally misplaced on the model, they should be right under the anti glare panel, and on the gun access covers.
We are not trying to put down these builds at all. But, some of us ask questions when something doesn’t look right. There are a lot of us here in the US that gobble up information and history on our beloved American aircraft of the WWll era. You seem to be totally convinced that your builder is incapable of error, I think the evidence here proves otherwise.
You might want to run these by Mr. Jakkraphad, There are many knowledgeable builders here in the US as well. I know that if I were a collector and purchased a model on commission, I would expect the utmost acuracy…
Steve, as I talked with Jakkraphad yesterday he said the leading edge color is not grey, it’s unpainted metal color. He just tried to match that color, close or not close depending on viewer’s judgement. Utmost accuracy?, you must be kidding! How much do you pay for an unbuilt kit of Trumpeter’s P-38L-5-L0 1:32?. I paid roughly the same price for a finished one - this unique one!
Cobrahistorian, if “Beautiful Dora” means the “Marge” decals, then Jakkraphad got
them from Revell’s P-38 1:32 he had kept for 20 years. [;)]
“Dora” is what the Fw190D-9 was known as by the pilots who flew them. A models were “Anton”, F models “Friedrich” and I THINK G models were “Gisele”.
I actually had the pleasure of meeting Marge Bong-Drucker back in 97 when I created an exhibit honoring Maj Bong and Cmdr McCampbell at the National Warplane Museum. The widows of both aces came out for the dedication at our airshow. Pretty good time.
Sorry for late reply, I’ve been busy for two days. Here are some pics that Jakkraphad used as reference in building the P-38L :
Cobrahistorian, thanks for info on the Dora, I just knew that it’s the Fw-190 D-9.
The markings (swastika) and number (10) were painted by Jakkraphad.
RemcoGrob, I know that finished models are very expensive in the US and EU.
A P-38L like this one may fetch $400-$500. But as I told earlier that Jakkraphad offered it to me at friendship price…( $100 only!). Will I sell it for $500? Never!!
