Build review: Jono gets Specific with his lightning from the Pacific..

The Eduard Limited edition version of the 48th scale P-38 Lightning is based on the old academy kit but it is enhanced greatly by the addition of several Brassin and Photo-etched extras which really make this kit a top notch contender - let's see how Jono's build of the kit turned out in today's build review..

Pacific Lightnings 1/48 Limited Edition

Kit No: 1175

Kit type: injection moulded multimedia

Scale: 1/48^th

Sprues: 8 + 1 clear + vinyl tyres

Brassin cockpit and engine details + Photo etch included

1500 kits limited run

Available from: Eduard Direct and Eduard Stockists.

Download instructions: here

OK so we know this is the old Monogram 1/48 P.38 but with some Eduard magic the kit has a whole new look.

Eduard’s Limited edition of the P-38J and L series, focused on the Pacific theatre service. Is based on the Academy kit  in 1/48th scale but the real bonus of this kit is the inclusion of Eduard’s additional detailing sets (exclusively included in this kit only).

The large Decal sheet

The instructions showing you just where to add the Brassin extras

The Eduard Brassin accessories cover the cockpit:

pilot's compartment bay

pilot's seat

armour plate behind the seat & radio equipment

the superchargers (the entire supercharger, plus the supercharger intakes located on the engine sides)

landing gear wheels (including the front wheel, with superb details on their discs, also as the fine tire pattern)

The photo-etched accessories contain:

the instrument panel

seatbelts

air intake strainers

structure of the coolers intakes

landing gear interior

various exterior details 

The decal choices are:

-P-38L-5, s/n 44-25863, flown by Capt. Ken Hart, 431st FS, 475th FG, Lingayen, the Philippines, June, 1945

-P-38L-5, flown by Capt. Bob DeHaven, 7th FS, 49th FG, Tacloban, October, 1944 

- P-38L, flown by Lt. M. M. Jarboe, 36th FS, 8th FG, Ie Shima, Okinawa, May 1945

 

-P-38J-15, s/n 42-103921, flown by Lt. Richard L. West, 35th FS, 8th FG, Owi, July, 1944 

-P-38J-10, s/n 42-67590, flown by Capt. Jay T. Robbins, CO, 80th FS, 8th FG, Finschhafen, December, 1943

-P-38L, flown by the CO of 70th FS, 18th F FG, Moret Field, Zamboanga, the Philippines, 1945

The first thing was to check all was there then work out which one on the plans I wanted to.do  This is where I found the mistakes.  Eduard say to discard the landing light on the port wing for the five versions you can build but you will need to check other references as the P.38L did have the landing light. The next thing was the placement of the aerial wires they show you on the plans.  They should go from the top of the fins and meet on the top of the back of the canopy just below where the canopy opens.  Just be sure to check any reference you have.

Here are some pictures of the base of the kit which was the Academy kit in 48th scale

Jono much preferred the Brassin wheels to the old plastic type

The resin cockpit was where I started and again it’s another Eduard triumph and goes together without any problems.  You will need to be careful how much you sand off the cockpit floor as it may warp if you take off too much.  

And here it is just before going into the fuselage- with some paint and the photo etch and BRASSIN it looks amazing!

Here are all the brassin cockpit parts before getting sealed up

Care needs to be taken when fitting the front of the canopy as it can damage the photo etched throttle parts. The only part I added was some wires to the radio sets behind the pilot’s seat.  However the cockpit fit and match-up to fuselage sides is great.

Then I started cleaning up all the other resin parts and added all the photo etched parts as well.  The most difficult of the photo etched parts to fit were the actuators to the undercarriage doors. 

This also made things a little tricky when gluing the doors in place as the Eduard parts even though they look much better, don’t quite match up with the kit and need to be adjusted to fit. All the other resin and photo etched parts when on without any problems. They really do make the kit look better and the detail on the superchargers is stunning.

In the build of this kit I had no problems with the fit of the extra detail parts but I did have some with the fit of the kit tail booms to the top of the wings but with a little filler and sanding and then re-scribing the panel lines all was well.  I also had a bit of trouble with the fit of the nose section but again a bit of filler and sanding did the job.

The rest of the kit goes together quite well to which the next job was to mask up everything and get her ready to paint.  The Eduard canopy and wheel mask set make things a lot easier as the side panels on the canopy could have been fun to mask.

The painting of the kit was done with the Alclad system but I had a big problem with the Alclad gloss black undercoat and had to sand it back and went with the good old Humbrol gloss black which went on like a charm and the used Alclad.Airframe Aluminum (ACL-119). The anti-glare panels were painted with Gunze Olive Drab (C12) and the tyres. Tamiya Rubber Black (XF-85). 

Then the Decals were put on: These adhered without any real problems and needed just a splash of Daco Decal setting solution to get them to conform to some of the curves. The model was the given a coat of Hannants Satin Acrylic Varnish and then some weathering was done. Which for me are a combination oils and inks.

This was fun to do and the Eduard parts make a big difference to the kit. My only negative comment is the Eduard have gone to great lengths to make a stunning cockpit, but if you go by the plans and the build all this work will not be seen as the canopy is all closed up. It would have been nice if they had made a photo etched part the goes on top of the canopy so you can open it up and show off the cockpit. I have scratch built one after looking at some reference material and as the boys at the club said really shows off Eduard’s handiwork.

Jono Willis

Thanks to Eduard for providing this kit for us to review and build.