Vintage Monogram P-38 Lightning

[BlackSheep214]

I was gonna do the fighter version but will save it for a Tamiya P-38 Lightning kit. It seems Richard Bong is always a popular scheme to build. I’d probably build it an ETO version next time.

[Stikpusher]

Some original color reference photos of photo recon Lightnings

https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2022/ ... otographs/

https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2022 ... s-part-ii/

[BlackSheep214]

Those are great photo references. Interestingly, the Monogram instruction guide mentions they can be Silver overall with black or olive drab anti glare panels with invasion stripes. or cerulean blue overall color.

I googled what exactly is cerulean blue is and I found an interesting answer… similar to Colbolt blue but lighter in shade hue

[Stikpusher]

Yeah, the “cerulean blue” callout on the white box kit instructions was an old school best guestimate description. Dana Bell did a good article in FSM magazine years back (when they had such useful articles) about the F-4/F-5 Lightnings and their various paint schemes, and a good bit of info on the Haze and Synthetic Haze schemes. That stuff is also covered in his Squadron book “Air Force Colors, Vol.2”.



The Synthetic Haze scheme even the cover illustration

[BlackSheep214]

I came across this interesting article on haze paint on P-38 Lightnings...

https://www.paulbudzik.com/models/tamiy ... n-pg2.html

One image is a great template to what I may replicate.
Interestingly, the underneath were "Flight White" with sort of a blue haze on top. Although not a solid color per say but similar to camo scheme of sorts. I have an idea what I'll do. Just got to experiment with mixing my blues and whites.

This gives me even more motivation to mix my own colors than ordering PRU Blue.

[BlackSheep214]

An interesting observation concerning Photo Reccon Lightnings... I knew some in Olive Drab/Neutral Gray had D-Day Invasion Stripes onthe undersides of their wings. I'm curious if PRU Blue Lightnings also sported D-Day Invasion Stripes on the undersides of their wings as well?

[BlackSheep214]

Main wings and canopy assembled...



Definitely a huge improvement from when I did as a kid. Oh the glue from my fingers marred it as a kid.

Masking it was fairly troublefree with a little patience. Glued the rear and front canopy parts last night. Glued the sides and top a little while ago.

[BlackSheep214]

Nose glass installed.

Masking was easy. Lay them down on tape, cut around pieces.



End results...





They should be easy to pull off once paint and clearcoat is laid down.

[Stikpusher]

so far, so good…

[jeaton01]

Looking good, Tom. I bought some PRU blue in the past and it is still waiting for me to put a P-38 under it. I built the Monogram kit when it was first issued and I still have it, all in one piece.