P-38J Lightning, Droop Snoot, Airfix, 1/72, Conversion, Part 2

 

The P-38 Droop Snoot doesn't exist in 1/72. Here, I continued its conversion. I made the mold of the bomber's nose and thermoformed it with acetate from a supermarket meat tray.

Once the pieces were in place, they were adhered with white glue and reinforced with epoxy modeling clay.

The nose was filled with acrylic filler to match.

With the basic paint job complete, several coats of varnish were applied. I started with the insignia.

Now for the air intakes. The Airfix model is a P38F, and the Droop is a conversion of a P-38J. I also built them with epoxy modeling clay. This sculpting process is quick and easy, but the drying time is not.

I'm almost finished with the stars. The last correction is the toothpick tips.

I build the propellers on a metal axis (a nail), using acetate and epoxy modeling clay.

P-38J Lightning Droop Snoot, Airfix 1/72

 

Modelando el F-89 Scorpion, Revell, 1/77

P-38 Lightning, Droop Snoot conversion, Airfix, 1/72, Part 1

  

I'd always wanted to build the Revell Lodela P-38 Droop Snoot, but my collection was always in 1/72 scale, so I never bought it. But the concern remained. I recently reviewed my models that I reserve for spare parts. I always keep a couple of models in my shop for warranty purposes. Since the regular models are sold out, I can use them. I reviewed them and realized I could make the Droop Snoot using one of the incomplete ones, just by making the parts. It's the Airfix version of the P-38F, a little different.

Basic assembly: the nose shape will be made with epoxy modeling clay, but it's necessary to use branches cut to the correct size to serve as a base for the new nose.

The front has a transparent bomber nose. I make it by sculpting it with epoxy modeling clay, letting it dry, and then thermoforming it with acetate over the base.

The nose is sculpted with epoxy modeling clay.

I make the nostril holes and cover them with thermoformed pieces.

The transparent pieces are glued with white glue.

P-38F Lightning, 54 FS/343 FG, USAAF, 5th Air Force, Guadalcanal

 

The Aleutians front was the most demanding for the pilot, the weather was a nightmare and claimed more planes than the enemy, the 347th Fighter Group sent a detachment, with volunteer pilots to face the Japanese occupation of Kiska, later this unit received squadron designation and took its fighters throughout the Pacific, by 1943 they were in Guadalcanal, forming part of the Cactus Air Force, being the fighters with greater range and therefore, improving the defense of Henderson Field

Revell Model, Gunze paint, decals from the Lodela version, OOB

3 Photo Group, F-4A Lightning, USAAF, India

 Strategic reconnaissance is a dangerous job, travelling a lot and to the strangest places in the world. This aircraft and a couple of companions were assigned to an airfield in India, to monitor Japanese movements in the Indian Ocean and Burma. Usually reconnaissance detachments are made up of only a few aircraft.

Airfix model, the camera covers are from the Revell model, as are their decals, specially mixed El Viejo Marino paint, PRU blue is not a very commercial colour.

P-40E Warhawk, 11 FS / 343 FG, Aleutian Islands

 This one belongs to the Aleutian front, where the 11th Air Force fought in the worst climate in the world, against the Japanese, in World War II, the wind, clouds, snow and cold turned that front into a white hell, the campaign ended when the Japanese withdrew from Attu and Kiska.

My collection of P-40 is almost completely made up of models that represent aircraft that fought in the Pacific or in North Africa, in this case the tiger mouth design was what I liked the most to model it, the decals are from the old Lodela model, the tiger head is painted, using Old Marine paints, as well as the decorations, except the number, which is from a Corsair.

P-40E, 1/72, Revell, Lodela, El Viejo Marino paitn, all handbrushed