A very, very brief video review of Tamiya’s new P-38

[LDO]

But seriously, I pre-ordered one at the LHS and picked it up yesterday and my mind is blown. A totally new take on modeling the P-38. The fuselage “pod” and booms all have an insert to make them stronger and keep everything lined up. I thought the forward end of each part looked odd, then read the instructions. Each part has a round receptacle to hold a stainless ball bearing that comes with the kit. They are to keep the plane on its nose. I had a circa-1960s Monogram P-38 as a kid; it came with a rod that was glued to the horizontal stabilizer to hold the tail up. 

The decal placement guide is pretty impressive, also. It’s full size and in color, showing top, bottom, and sides. There are two decal options; “Miss Virginia” (White 147) and white 33, a 39th FS bird in grey and olive drab white blue spinners and white sharks teeth on the fuselage booms. A really nice looking plane. 

[Snake45]

45 minutes ago, LDO said:

I had a circa-1960s Monogram P-38 as a kid; it came with a rod that was glued to the horizontal stabilizer to hold the tail up. 

I was thinking the rod was molded to the bottom of one of the fins. Maybe I had an earlier issue. At any rate, when I built a couple of them later as adults, I just put some .38 or .45 bullets into the engine nacelles until it sat right. 

Nowadays, when I have an issue like this, my first move is to Dremel out internally everything aft of the CG. If that doesn't fix the problem entirely, it greatly reduces the amount of weight you need for balance in the front end. 

[LDO]

I could be wrong about the rod. I know I had one plane like that...it’s been a while. 

I have also used a Dremel to reduce weight aft of cg. Cool idea. 

[Fat Brian]

I've seen reviews of this kit, it looks amazing. I don't really have room for 1/48 aircraft but I've got a 1/72 Academy P-38 I'll get to eventually. 

[Snake45]

On 10/27/2019 at 8:25 PM, Snake45 said:

I was thinking the rod was molded to the bottom of one of the fins. Maybe I had an earlier issue. At any rate, when I built a couple of them later as adults, I just put some .38 or .45 bullets into the engine nacelles until it sat right. 

Nowadays, when I have an issue like this, my first move is to Dremel out internally everything aft of the CG. If that doesn't fix the problem entirely, it greatly reduces the amount of weight you need for balance in the front end. 

I wanted to post these pics at the time, and couldn't find them on the puter. Just located them. 

Monograms. I built the silver one in high school around 1970 and finished it in Rub N Buff. By the '90s, most of it had worn off, so I airbrushed it in Floquil Platinum Mist and gave it new decals. 

The blue one was built in the mid/late '70s, and all the paint is hand-brushed Humbrol. Main color is RAF PRU Blue.