1/48 Lockheed P-38F/G

[Totalize]

Guys, I would like to take a straw poll. Hope you can help me out.

In about 70% of the photos of p-38's I have looked at which are parked they have the rear ladder deployed. Should I have it deployed or retracted? What say you. My only concern would be breaking it off during the build.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Just my personal build practice, I always tack on those fragile bits just before the final finish coat. Usually break off some putting them on the shelf anway. My vote. Down.

 

[Crimea_River]

If your canopy will be open then I'd put the step down and find a way to add it at the end.

 

[Jock Tamson]

Step down gets my vote.

 

[Wayne Little]

with Andy on that count...you will surely knock it off otherwise...

 

[Totalize]

Thank you for that. I will try and have it down. Just have to figure out how to do it as it mounts from the inside out.

 

[fubar57]

Love the innards. Can you saw the ladder off and then pin it later?

 

[Totalize]

Love the innards. Can you saw the ladder off and then pin it later?

Geo, I will post a picture of the ladder this evening and show you how I might secure it after the upper and lower fuselage halves are glued together.

 

[Totalize]

Okay so here are some shots of the ladder. You can see where the red arrow is there is this strip that does not allow me to push the ladder through the slot. I was thinking of shaving this off and pushing the ladder through when the upper and lower fuselage halves are glued together. I included a shot of how it mounts on the aircraft per the instructions.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I seem to recall having a similar problem and just decided to modify the ladder so I could shove it in when the build was finished. I was not bothered about folding it away and just secured it in place where it still sits nicely.

 

[Totalize]

I seem to recall having a similar problem and just decided to modify the ladder so I could shove it in when the build was finished. I was not bothered about folding it away and just secured it in place where it still sits nicely.

Thanks Vic. But as I flipped through the instructions Tamiya shows the ladder being added near the end of the build in step 43. What the heck??

 

[Totalize]

Nose landing gear bay and cross member done. Primed in Stynlrez grey and painted with Tamiya AS-12 decanted from the rattle can and sprayed on.

 

[Totalize]

Nose landing gear part attached to the bottom fuselage. I affixed one of the weights that came with the kit to the nose per the instructions with the same 2 part epoxy glue I used in my recent B-25 build.

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Nice and super neat.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

That nose landing cross member looks like the real thing, you sure this is a 1:48 scale and not a 1 on 1!!

 

[Jock Tamson]

Really nice looking details. Tamiya seem to be going from strength to strength on these new toolings. It's a pity that their kits are so expensive in the UK or I would have ordered one by now.

 

[Totalize]

Thanks guys. Yeah Vic the Tamiya AS-12 looks pretty good I must say.

Upper and lower fuselage halves glued in place.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Totalize]

The nose of this particular aircraft is to be painted red. So, I am going to leave this part off, paint it separately and added it later.