Bong's "Marge" in the works

[BillL]

I finished the cockpit of the P-38 today.

The kit is 1/48 Hasegawa, with the Eduard PE detail set.

I replaced the levers on the forward part of the throttle quadrant with wire. Eduard supplies levers with knobs on the ends, but my reference pics showed that they had none.

The belts are prepainted, and the paint flaked off on the top when I draped the belts over the bar behind the seat. I matched the paint and repainted them the best I could.

I used the printed instruments, as the prepainted ones lacked sharpness. I'm glad they supplied this alternative. Their prepainted WW I instruments are MUCH sharper.

Now to do the wheel wells (TONS of PE to add there).

I have pics of the PE frets & instructions, as well as the plastic parts,

HERE

[Liberator24]

ooooohhh, I like this one!!!

Adding to favorites, so I to can build ultimate P-38 killing machine!!

[BillL]

Thanks Liberator !

There are a few pics of Bong and this aircraft. One may be a stateside War Bond Tour aircraft, since the letters for "Marge" are all capitale, done in a wedge-shaped pattern. There are also pics of both of them in the cockpit.

[Liberator24]

Maybe someone out there at ARC remembers the finescale article on this build?? That kit was well put together!!

[Jamie Cheslo]

Ayuh, folks, looks like another Bill Lachance special comin' our way!

Great looking cockpit so far, that PE set will do wonderful things in your hands, I am sure.

I shall also be watching this thread with interest, because I shall want to see first hand how you will deal with the landing gear placement, and "sit" issues that the Hase. P-38 kits seem to have. I've got one in my stash, and I shall follow your lead on this one.

:D

J.C.

[BillL]

Thanks Jamie !

I've noticed that the Hasegawa kit doesn't sit in a "tail low" attitude. My options are to lengthen the cylinder in the nosegear, shorten the main ones, or a little of both. I haven't quite decided yet.

[Jamie Cheslo]

Thanks Jamie !

I've noticed that the Hasegawa kit doesn't sit in a "tail low" attitude. My options are to lengthen the cylinder in the nosegear, shorten the main ones, or a little of both. I haven't quite decided yet.

Perhaps shortening the main gear would be the easiest course of action? Whatever you decide, I am sure it will work well.

J.C.

[MoFo]

Suggestion for Alvis: "Bong" P-38.

[CBREEZE]

BillL,

Nice job here. Sorry to hear that you had trouble with the PE belts but from the photos's you can't tell that there was a problem.

I read some time ago that if you brushed the painted PE belts with future (and waited for the cure) before bending, it helped to avoid the problem that you had. I just used the technique on PE belts for my wildcat. Was a pretty tight radius draping them over the seat back and had no problems with the paint. Thought I would pass that on to you and looks like there might be another use for Future.

Chuck B.

[BillL]

Thanks Chuck !

Jamie - I'll do whatever looks best to my eyes. It doesn't really matter whether it's the easiest or hardest way, I just care about the way it looks. It sometimes takes me longer to finish a build, but I'm usually satisfied with the result. I don't value "easy" too highly (which is probably why I don't like Tamiya kits !).

MoFo - ?????

Chuck - I usually glosscoat, wash, Dullcote, and drybrush the belts along with the rest of the cockpit. I didn't on this one. You learn something with every build. When the learning stops, it's time to find a new hobby. Thank goodness for mistakes ! I still have a lot of kits I want to build.

Thanks again !

Edited April 29, 2006 by BillL

[Jamie Cheslo]

Jamie - I'll do whatever looks best to my eyes. It doesn't really matter whether it's the easiest or hardest way, I just care about the way it looks. It sometimes takes me longer to finish a build, but I'm usually satisfied with the result. I don't value "easy" too highly (which is probably why I don't like Tamiya kits !).

I admire that ethic, Bill. And that is probably the reason you produce such excellent kits. Somehow, I even manage to make mistakes on those "shake and bake" Tamiya kits! :D Guess I am going to be building models for a long time as well! <_<

Cheers,

J.C.

[BillL]

Jamie - long live the "mistakes" ! For me, it's the incentive to open that next kit box. Always strive to try and do a little better on the next one. I try to keep the goals small, though. Like trying to achieve a better wash around bolts, for example. Concentrate on the little things, and the big ones take crare of themselves.

I finished adding the PE to the nosegear well, and one of the maingear wells. The PE really dresses up their appearance. The parts for the door actuators are tacked in place with white glue. I'll CA them after the airframe is painted.

The gear doors, without the PE hinges. The wells and door interiors will be interior green, and the hinges metallic.

I found a way to attach the main wheel wells that ensures correct placement and alignment. Assemble the wells, and glue the boom halves along the bottom. With the tops of the booms unglued, just slip the wheel wells into position through the wing openings. You can then glue the tops of the nacelles together. I also found it necessary to trim the forward bulkhead of the wells to get the sides to sit flush with the openings on the bottom of the booms.

Now to do the right main gear well !