US WWII FIGHTER Early Lightnings 1174

Early Lightnings 1174 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT

intro The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement. It became famous not only for its performance in the skies of WWII, but also for its unusual appearance. The Lightning, designed by the Lockheed team led by Chief Engineer Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson, was a complete departure from conventional airframe design. Powered by two liquid cooled inline V-1710 engines, it was almost twice the size of other US fighters and was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns plus a 20 mm cannon, giving the Lightning not only the firepower to deal with enemy aircraft, but also the capability to inflict heavy damage on ships. The first XP-38 prototype, 37-457, was built under tight secrecy and made its maiden flight on January 27, 1939. The USAAF wasn´t satisfied with the big new fighter, but gave permission for a transcontinental speed dash on February 11, 1939. During this event, test pilot Kelsey crashed at Mitchell Field, NY. Kelsey survived the cash but the airplane was written off. Despite this, Lockheed received a contract for thirteen preproduction YP-38s. The first production version was the P-38D (35 airplanes only armed with 37mm cannon), followed by 210 P-38Es which reverted back to the 20 mm cannon. These planes began to arrive in October 1941 just before America entered World War II. The next versions were P-38F, P-38G, P-38H and P-38J. The last of these introduced an improved shape of the engine nacelles with redesigned air intakes and cooling system. Also, the curved windscreen was replaced by a flat one. One of the Lightning´s weaknesses was a huge vibration during dive attacks caused by transsonic airflow on the wings. Lockheed never solved this problem, but dive brakes were installed under each wing from P-38J-25 production block to maintain control when diving at high-speed. The fastest of the Lightnings was the P-38J with a top speed of 420 mph, and the version produced in the greatest quantity was the P-38L - 3,735 left the Lockheed factory while 113 left Vultee assembly lines. So-called 'Drop Snoots' were fitted with bombardier type noses, and used to lead formations of bomb-laden P-38s to their targets. The P-38M was a two-seat radar-equipped night fighter, a few of which had become operational before the war ended. As noted above, the P-38 was the biggest singleseat fighter to serve with the USAAF. Its overall length was 11.53 m; height was 3.00 m and wingspan was 15.85 m. The -J version weighed in at 6,214 kg empty and 9,980 kg loaded. The P-38 was the only US fighter aircraft produced throughout US involvement in World War Two, from Pearl Harbor to Victory over Japan Day. The P-38 was used in a number of roles, including dive bombing, horizontal bombing, ground-attack, photo reconnaissance missions, and extensively as a long-range escort fighter. The US top aces, Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories), flew this aircraft in the Pacific Theater of Operations. P-38s also served in the China-Burma-India Theater and in the South West Pacific area, and was the primary long-range fighter of the USAAF until the arrival of adequate numbers of P-51D Mustangs in 1944/45. The internal fuel capacity of 410 gallons could be increased to 1,010 gallons with two external drop tanks. This enabled the Lightning to fly a distance of 3,640 km, allowing it to become one of the most feared fighters in the Pacific War as well as the first fighter ready and able to carry out long range escort missions for four-engined bombers over Europe.

F P-38G-13-LO, s/n 43-2264, flown by Lt. Rex Barber, 347th FG, 339th FS, Guadalcanal, April 18, 1943 ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU A KOMPLETNÍ KAMUFLÁŽNÍ SCHÉMA NALEZNETE NA w w w . e d u a r d . c o m / s / 1 1 7 4

H52 48 86 38

H53 13

Miss Virginia was the personal aircraft of Robert Petit of the 70th FS / 349th FG. On April 18, 1943 it was borrowed by Lt. Rex Barber for a special mission. The task of this mission was destroying the airplane that carried Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the most important person of the Japanese armed forces and architect of the Pearl Harbor attack. Thanks to Yamamoto's tendancy to be on time, the mission was a success and Barber and Capt. Thomas Lanphier shared the kill that brought down Yamamoto. Barber´s P-38 had over 100 holes suffering damage from pieces of Yamamoto´s stricken bomber. The kill marks symbolize a destroyer sunk on March 29, 1943 and two Rufe floatplanes downed on February 27, 1943. The aircraft was named after Petit´s fiancée, Miss Virginia Woodard. ATTENTION UPOZORNÌNÍ ACHTUNG ATTENTION

Carefully read instruction sheet before assembling. When you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame and use in well ventilated room. Keep out of reach of small children. Children must not be allowed to suck any part, or pull vinyl bag over the head.

Pred zapocetím stavby si peclive prostudujte stavební návod. Pri používání barev a lepidel pracujte v dobre vetrané místnosti. Lepidla ani barvy nepoužívejte v blízkosti otevreného ohne. Model není urcen malým detem, mohlo by dojít k požití drobných dílu.

Iire soigneusement la fiche dínstructions avant dássembler. Ne pas utiliser de colle ou de peinture a` p roximité dúne flamme nue, et aérer la piece de temps en temps. Garder hors de portée des enfants en bas âge. Ne pas laisser les enfants mettre en bouche ou sucer les pie` ces, o u p asser u n s achet v inyl s ur l a t ete.

Von dem Zusammensetzen die Bauanleitung gut durchlesen. Kleber und Farbe nicht nahe von offenem Feuer verwenden und das Fenster von Zeit zu Zeit Belüftung öffnen. Bausatz von kleinen Kindern fernhalten. Verhüten Sie, daß Kinder irgendwelche Bauteile in den Mund nehmen oder Plastiktüten über den Kopf ziehen.

INSTRUCTION SIGNS INSTR. SYMBOLY INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN SYMBOLES

OPTIONAL BEND OPEN HOLE SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY NOTCH REMOVE APPLY EDUARD MASK VOLBA OHNOUT VYVRTAT OTVOR SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ ZÁØEZ ODØÍZNOUT AND PAINT FACULTATIF PLIER SIL VOUS PLAIT FAIRE UN TROU MONTAGE SYMÉTRIQUE L INCISION RETIRER POUŽÍT EDUARD MASK NACH BELIEBEN BITTE BIEGEN OFFNEN SYMMETRISCHE AUFBAU DER EINSCHNITT ENTFERNEN NABARVIT

PARTS DÍLY TEILE PIECES

PLASTIC PARTS A> B> D>

E> F>

C> Tire>

G> PE - PHOTO ETCHED DETAIL PARTS

eduard RP - RESIN PARTS

R7 R8 R8a R9a R9b R6 R2 R3 R5 4pcs. 2pcs. 2pcs. 2pcs. 2pcs. R11 R12 R13 R1 R4 2pcs. 2pcs. R14 R10 2pcs.

R15 2pcs. R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30

COLOURS BARVY FARBEN PEINTURE

GSi Creos (GUNZE) AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR Mr.METAL COLOR H 4 C4 YELLOW H 47 C41 RED BROWN MC214 DARK IRON H 5 C5 BLUE H 52 C38 OLIVE DRAB MC218 ALUMINIUM H 6 C6 GREEN H 53 C13 NEUTRAL GRAY Mr.COLOR SUPER METALLIC H 11 C62 FLAT WHITE H 58 C27 INTERIOR GREEN SM06 CHROME SILVER H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK H 13 C3 FLAT RED H 302 C302 GREEN 2 A B PE10 PE12 PE19

R17 PE7 H 58 C27 PE6 INT. GREEN

PE12 PE3 PE9 C PE10 PE13 PE11 H 58 C27 INT. GREEN PE11 R18 PE13 PE3

H 58 C27 R13 INT. GREEN H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK R28 R19 R18 decal C H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK R26 B R17 decal A H 47 decal B C41 RED BROWN

H 58 R22 C27 decal D INT. GREEN R25 R27 R23 decal E H 58 R21 H 58 C27 C27 INT. GREEN INT. GREEN H 12 C33 A R20 FLAT BLACK H 12 R24 C33 H 12 FLAT BLACK C33 H 58 C FLAT BLACK C27 INT. GREEN

H 58 C27 INT. GREEN

R10 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

R14 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

R15 R12 R15 R11

H 58 PE18 C27 INT. GREEN H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

R11 H 12 C33 H 12 FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 H 58 C33 FLAT BLACK PE4 C27 FLAT BLACK PE20 INT. GREEN PE21

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK R16 PE15 PE2 PE16 R12

PE1

PE5 R12 3 F14 E F PE27 H 58 C27 INT. GREEN PE47 PE45 PE50 A1 PE43 PE46

PE44

F29 F33 F34

F32 D

2 pcs. 2 pcs. E22 PE49 E23 F12

PE34 TIRE R4 LARGE R5 PE35 A2 E15

G2 MC218 ALUMINIUM E16

H 77 G2 C137 TIRE BLACK

SM06 F35 F36 CHROME SILVER

A2 PE32 A2

MC218 PE33 ALUMINIUM H 12 G H C33 D4, D7 FLAT BLACK F17 H 58 C27 INT. GREEN D5, D6

MC218 F27 ALUMINIUM

PE42 H 58 F28 C27 PE41 INT. GREEN PE41 PE42

I J G F30 F31

H 58 C27 R8 R8a INT. GREEN R8 - MARKINGS MC218 ALUMINIUM H 58 H D ; E ONLY C27 INT. GREEN PE36 B1 PE52 MC218 ALUMINIUM MC218 B2 ALUMINIUM PE37 PE51

F D19

B4 4 - 3,5 mm D3

D22, D23

D13 D1

PE30 D23 MC218 ALUMINIUM PE30 I

D22 J

D14

H 58 PE17 C27 INT. GREEN

PE24 PE25

eduard K M E20 F10 F1 G1 G3 F2

G6 TIRE PE39 SMALL F9

F3 PE26

MC218 F4 ALUMINIUM R2

F26 H 52 C38 G5 R1 OLIVE DRAB R29 H 52 C38 PE38 OLIVE DRAB MC218 ALUMINIUM F8 F6 L E18

G7 G2 F5 F7 PE14 N D11

D10 R1 PE31

D9 PE22 D12 R4 2 pcs. R4 2 pcs. 5 O MARKING E ONLY

C10 C9 N

MC218 ALUMINIUM

D2 PE40 M

PE40 H 58 C27 SM06 INT. GREEN CHROME SILVER

MC218 F11 ALUMINIUM D16 D17 H 58 C27 INT. GREEN

H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK N

MC218 ALUMINIUM K

L MC218 ALUMINIUM

SM06 CHROME SILVER

E14 E18 M MC218 ALUMINIUM

D30

C9 C10 O

F18 20g weight C10

G4 R30

MC214 R9b MC218 ALUMINIUM DARK IRON G7 R7 R9a H 12 PE8 G6 C33 G1 FLAT BLACK PE48 R7 R29 P G5 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK MC214 DARK IRON R9b R9a G1

R7 H 12 C33 PE48 FLAT BLACK

R PE23 H 13 C3 RED

MC214 R7 DARK IRON F20

F22 E1 E2 F21 MC214 F24 DARK IRON P R MC214 F23 DARK IRON PE29 PE28

E4 E5 E1 E2

E3 E1 E2 A1 A1 6 P-38F-5-LO, s/n 42-12623, flown by Capt. Robert L. Faurot, 35th FG, 39th FS, Port Moresby, New Guinea, A January, 1943

Robert L. Faurot (2 v.) flew Spitfires and Hurricanes with No. 303 (Polish) and No. 306 Squadrons, RAF, before his transfer to the Pacific area. He was the very first pilot of the 5th AF to down a Japanese aircraft. The unusual kill happened on November 11, 1942 over the Japanese airbase at Lae, New Guinea. As Faurot passed over the Japanese airstrip, he quickly released two 500 pound bombs so he could engage in the pending dogfight. The bombs exploded in the water at the end of the airstrip, just as the Japanese aircraft rotated off the runway. A Zero flew through the explosion and crashed into the water. Robert Faurot was awarded the Air Medal for this mission. Faurot was killed in action on March 3, 1943, escorting B-17s. His Lightning was hit by Zeroes during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1174 H52 48 61 58 63 38 62

H5 5

H53 H52 67 57 13 58 60a 38

H52 38

H53 56 13 61 46 H5 5 H53 13 H12 33 H52 38

H53 13 H52 H4 38 4 45 50 61 H53 13 59 ? 60b 58

67 66 71 70

H5 H5 68 5 69 73 5 72

H52 58 61 38 48 64 65

H53 13

H4 H5 H53 H52 H12 70 YELLOW BLUE GREY OLIVE DRAB 4 5 13 38 BLACK 33 eduard 7 B P-38F-15-LO, s/n 43-2166 , 1st FG, 27th FS, Tunisia, 1943

The 1st Fighter Group entered WWII in Great Britain and moved to North Africa as a part of the forces to support Operation Torch, the Allied landing in North Africa. The Lightning here sports a huge scoreboard indicating mission tallies and three kills, typical of P-38s of the 27th Fighter Squadron. The standard camouflage scheme of Olive Drab / Neutral Gray also carries the HV code letters and red markings. The serial number on the port vertical stabilizer is rendered unusually with only four digits. The missing digit, a '3', likely was obliterated during superficial touch-ups during maintenance or repair. ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1174

H52 53 77 ?79 80 38

H13 H13 3 3

H53 H52 H52 13 76+75 74 38 38

H52 38

H52 H53 38 78 13 46 13 3 H53 13 H12 33 H52 38

H53 13 H52 H4 38 4 45 52

13 H53 13 3 13 3

H13 H13 3 3

81 H52 77 53 38 146

H53 13

H4 H13 H53 H52 H52 H12 YELLOW RED GREY OLIVE DRAB FRESH PAINT 4 3 13 38 OLIVE DRAB 38 BLACK 33 eduard 8 C P-38G-15-LO, flown by Lt. James Hagenback, 1st FG, 94th FS, Monserrato, Sardinia, 1943

The 1st FG moved from North Africa to Italy in December, 1943, as the first unit of the newly formed 15th AF. Based in Italy, the group operated over Europe, including the famous attacks on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. This Lightning was flown by Lt. J. Hagenback, with the 94th FS. The color profile shows the aircraft prior to September 27th, 1943. Promoted to the rank of Captain, Hagenback served as squadron CO between the 27th of September 1943 to January 24th, 1944. The yellow marking and UN code letters identified this as a 94th Fighter Squadron aircraft. ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1174

H52 53 104 108a 38

H4 H4 4 4

H53 H52 13 119 141 142 38 107

145

H52 38

103

H53 109+111 13 46 ? H4 110 4 H53 13 H4 H12 4 33 H52 38

H53 13 H52 H4 38 4 45 52

H53 13

144 143 119

H4 H4 4 4

H4 H4 4 103 102 4

H52 108b 104 38 53 102

H53 13

H4 H53 H52 H12 YELLOW GREY OLIVE DRAB 4 13 38 BLACK 33 eduard 9 D P-38H-5-LO, flown by Lt. Kenneth G. Ladd, 8th FG, 80th FS, Dobodura AB, New Guinea, February, 1944

Kenneth G. Ladd is credited with 12 victories. The starboard nose sports the artwork of an almost nude girl with a very interesting inscription. Some modellers read it as 'Virgin X'. In fact, it is not the red letter 'X', but the word 'Virgin' crossed out in red. The nose art then takes on a different meaning altogether. This is a good example of how free American pilots were to express their feelings on their aircraft. The green marking identifies this as an 80th FS aircraft, the unit badge - a native - is painted on the port side of the nose. The national insignia are not the standard ones outlined in red or blue, but an intermediate rendition created from the older circular insignia with added white bars. ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1174 H6 H52 55 90 6 38 H11 62

H11 62 H6 H6 6 6 H52 38 H53 H52 93 13 H52 89 88 38 82 H52 38 38

H52 38

85 84 H53 H11 13 46 62

H6 6 H52 38 H53 13 H12 33 H52 38

H53 13 H52 H4 38 4 45 54

H53 13

H52 87 38

H6 H6 6 6

91 92 H52 H11 55 38 62

H11 62 H6 H53 6 13

H4 H53 H52 H52 H12 H11 H6 YELLOW GREY OLIVE DRAB FRESH PAINT WHITE 4 13 38 OLIVE DRAB 38 BLACK 33 62 GREEN 6 eduard 10 E P-38H-5-LO, s/n 42-67008, flown by Lt. A. F. Thompson, 80th FG, 459th FS, Burma, 1944

Lightnings flown by the 459th Fighter Squadron are easily recognised thanks to their unique green snake artwork. The unit was active against the Japanese forces in Burma and took delivery of their P-38s in April, 1944. The majority of P-38s delivered were late variant P-38Js and only one P-38H is known, recently uncovered. Based on rough documents, it was flown by Lt. F. A. Thompson. ÈESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1174 APPLY MASK, STEP 1

H52 99 H302 49 134 137 113 38 98 302

H11 H12 H302 62 33 302

H53 H52 132 133 139 101 13 121 38 112 123

131 H52 38

138

MC218 122 H53 13 46 H302 302 140 H53 13 H12 33 H52 38

H53 13 H52 H4 38 4 45 51

H53 13

120

124 125 136 135

101 100 101 100

H302 H302 302 302

113 129 126 49 H302 96 302 97

H53 H12 H11 13 33 62 130 127 ALUMINIUM MC218 128 100 H4 H53 H52 H12 H11 H302 YELLOW GREY OLIVE DRAB WHITE 4 13 38 BLACK 33 62 GREEN 302 eduard 11 F P-38G-13-LO, s/n 43-2264, flown by Lt. Rex Barber, 347th FG, 339th FS, Guadalcanal, April 18, 1943

105 95a

83 94 46

45 50

95b

86 83 106 48

H4 H53 H52 H12 YELLOW GREY OLIVE DRAB 4 13 38 BLACK 33 eduard EARLY LIGHTNIGS STENCIL VARIANTS

6 2 1 TOP 31 29c N O S T E P

29b N O S T E P

29c R

29b 20

18 7 1 3 4 5 6

43 N O S T E P

N O S T E P

29a R

33 29a 25 23

17 29a 19 28

20 L 29a 44

16 32 27

L 14 43 43 8 21 14 30 22

10 35 15

15 11 26 40

37 22 16 40 38 39 9 16

36 39 42

38 39 13 23 37

26 eduard