1:48 P 38L Lightning’s of the Pacific (Late War) Set 1

Twin-boom fighters over the southwest Pacific

The set opens a line devoted to Lightnings which in the closing phase of the war operated over the Pacific. The first subject is a J version with the name Windy City Ruthie, the second a late L version with serial number 44-25133 and the lettering Pecks Bad Girl V, assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group.

The 8th Fighter Group belonged among the longest committed formations in the region and its machines went the road from the defensive fighting over New Guinea to operations over the Philippines. Late Lightnings already carried a bare metal surface, on which colored national insignia and names on the noses stood out far more markedly than on the earlier olive finish. A model from this sheet therefore comes across as very high in contrast even without complicated shading.

What to watch out for during the build

The Lightning has an unusual number of areas where markings go: the outer as well as the inner sides of both engine booms, the horizontal tail between the rudders and the front part of the central nacelle. We recommend laying the placement out dry first and only then soaking the first marking. A polished metal surface is moreover sensitive to fingerprints, so the model is handled in gloves or through a soft cloth.

The sheet is intended for a kit in 1:48 scale, which the modeler obtains separately. Besides both schemes it holds accompanying technical lettering as well. Given that the two subjects differ in version, the set suits anyone who wants two machines from different periods of the same theater side by side and does not want to buy two separate sheets.