Academy 1/72 P-38J 'California Cutie'

[Guest]

Well, we've just had to abort our trekking holiday in the Austrian Alps when my wife tore a ligament in her foot on the first day. There are two silver linings to this cloud: a) she's not too badly hurt and is recovering well, b) I finally got the time to finish this, after five months!


I didn't do any modifications to the kit, but I took the scheme from the Kagero 'P-38 Lightning at War, Part 2' book, which also provided the decals unique to this aircraft (national markings etc. come from the kit). The invasion stripes and white triangles are masked and painted.


The kit goes together very well on the whole, with only the multi-part canopy and the main undercarriage doors giving some minor fit problems. As with the last Academy 1/72 kit I built, the decals were terrible - I had to trim the carrier film off to stop them silvering. The Kagero decals, however, are wonderful.


The main challenge was with the masking and painting - white first, then yellow, grey, olive, and finally black.

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[takeslousyphotos]

Very very nice Doug...... Superbly done and most deserving a "Great Build" from me matey.

[papa 695]

That looks great Doug no sign of any problems with the decals

[eddiesolo]

That is excellent Doug, cracking build.

[bazers]

Lovely work have always liked this twin ,built a radio controle model a few years back only lasted a couple of flights, if one engine cuts you have a problem.

[Guest]

Very neat bit of model making Doug.


Nice neat work as well getting clean lines on the white. Difficult to mask up as the paint creeps along panel lines.


Did you have problems and or how did you do it. Not easy. Used a bit of maskol on the last similar one before applying Tamiya tape. That worked quite well.


Laurie

[monica]

looks great Doug,a nice clean build,well done,

[flyjoe180]

Nailed it, superb work Doug. Glad I'm not the only one who struggles with Academy decals.

[Guest]

Very neat bit of model making Doug.
Nice neat work as well getting clean lines on the white. Difficult to mask up as the paint creeps along panel lines.


Did you have problems and or how did you do it. Not easy. Used a bit of maskol on the last similar one before applying Tamiya tape. That worked quite well.


Laurie

Hi Laurie,


Yes, it is tricky. I don't find the paint creeps along the panel lines - I think my tendency to be a bit 'mean' with the paint when airbrushing helps there - I just 'mist' a few coats on. For masking I use Tamiya tape, but for tapering parts like the tail booms, I had to cut thin strips for the edges first, then fill in the middle. Around the air intakes there was masking fluid (Vallejo), Blue Tack, anything that worked, really.

[Guest]

Great work, I hope your wife is ok as well

[Guest]

Superb work.

[Guest]

That is a very lovely build

[john i am]

Hope your other half is making a good recovery Dougie.


A great build there mate 100% perfection in every aspect love your aftermarket decals a nice touch.

[Lee W]

Stunning work


Lee

[PhilJ]

I do like this one Doug, the invasion stripes look quality. I do think on 1/32 and smaller like your 1/72 here, that the stripes do have to be masked and painted neat rather than the more realistic "hand painted look" because it would just look like a bad job, top quality!


Regards


Phil