Who said Lightning Does not strike the same place twice?

**Dark Horse** · 02-09-2013 21:58

Hi everyone, following on from my thread about Corgi Lightnings in 1/144 scale:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ightning-1-144
I thought I would show you another one that I have been working on, as I had 2 models of "Miss Virginia". All 4 of the models I have, I picked up cheaply from between about US $5.00 - $12.00 each. The 2 "Miss Virginia" were the dearer ones. I decided to change one as there is nothing more confusing than having 2 "Miss Virginia" planes on the table

as I am sure that you would agree...

Anyway it was a simple partial repaint and new decal operation. All the identification marks were painted out with Humbrol enamel paint. I also painted a few other details like the props. Then it was a near simple matter of locating some appropriate decals. Having a look through my spare decal collection

I found enough to complete a P-38F-5 Lightning from 347th Fighter Group (New Caledonia) operating with 13th AAF at Guadalcanal in 1943. This aircraft is displayed in the book "Flying Colours" by Green & Swanborough, page 136 (a book I have owned for a very long time and recommend highly for its inspirational colour profiles).

The decals were as follows: 4 sets of "33" from 1/72 "Italaerei" kits, 2 "S" from a 1/144 WW2 aircraft set for Hurricanes, Spitfires etc, from "1/144 Direct" and over-painted yellow. Finally I used 4 sets of sharkmouths (2 for each engine) from Wingkit Collection 7, spares from the P-40 kit as each kit comes with 2 sets of different sharkmouths. I was most concerned about this set of decals as I figured there would be no way that they would go on well without a fair bit of chopping up the decal plus probable painting in sections. However the decals went on as if they were absolutely meant for this model, just leaving a small gap where the decals didn't quite meet on the underside, which I then just painted white and outlined in black like the original decals. After using some decal setter & spraying with matt varnish to seal (masking off the canopy), I superglued the plane to its Litko base as I described in the thread listed above.

Voila! a nice new Lightning takes to the skies with its green "Miss Virginia" sister

I have included a pix of "Miss Virginia" (photo 1) as well as "Sharkmouth" so that you can see the comparisons.

**itchy** · 02-09-2013 22:25

nice

**Marechallannes** · 02-10-2013 01:49

A wonderful machine!

**Dark Horse** · 02-10-2013 02:19

Thanks! It looks mean on the tabletop - hopefully it scares my opponent into making mistakes!

**BobP** · 02-10-2013 10:42

Nice job on those. You must have a good collection of them. Keep the pics coming,

**csadn** · 02-10-2013 12:51

Umm -- would it be a bad time to mention the props are designed to both turn the same direction, where all (save one) models of the -38 had counter-rotating props? :)

**Doug** · 02-10-2013 13:38

Very nice models Nigel

**gully_raker** · 02-10-2013 19:08

Very nice conversion Nigel. Go get some Zeros!

**Dark Horse** · 02-12-2013 00:58

Originally Posted by csadn

Umm -- would it be a bad time to mention the props are designed to both turn the same direction, where all (save one) models of the -38 had counter-rotating props?

I don't know, would it?

My props are frozen in time and space.