Trumpeter

1/32 P-38 model kit

Product # 02227  

Product Article by Emad Tabsh

 

 

This is Trumpeter's new 1/ 32 scale Lockheed P-38L-5-LO kit with French markings and conversion parts for a reconnaissance F-5B model.

 

Kit#   02227

Box dimensions: length 595 mm      width 320 mm        height   115 mm

It comes in light grey plastic with the following dimensions:

Length of model:   360 mm

Wingspan:   495 mm

Construction booklet:   20   pages

2 instruction papers for the French version

 

Click on images below to see larger images

 

Number of sprues:   19 

20 clear parts

1 acetate instrument file

18 metal shafts

1 resin nose for the French F-5B recc. version

2 photo etched sheets with 57 parts

2 decal sheets

1 color chart by Eagle Editions Ltd.

3 rubber titers

2 of the sprues are of soft plastic

 

Total number of plastic parts:  362

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Main features include:  

  • -Two fully detailed engines 

  • -Separate flaps, ailerons, rudders and horizontal stab 

  • -Fully detailed nose mounted machine guns bay

  • -Detailed landing gear bays

  • -Detailed surfaces from inside fuselage(see photo)

  • -Engraved /raised panel lines where appropriate.

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  • -A decal sheet with 2 different US  markings, one A/C flown by Maj. Donald Campbell of the 36th. F.S. 8th. F.G. 1944 and the other one,”Itsy Bitsy II”, flown by Major George Lavin Jr. of the 54th. F.S. 343rd. F.G. 1945.Both are in natural metal finish. The decal sheet is printed by Cartograph of Italy.

     

    Click on images below to see larger images

  • -The French F-5B version decal sheet consists of one A/C flown by famous pilot and poet Capt. Antoine de St Exupery (MIA) 1944 and the other flown by Capt. Gavoille 1945. Both A/C in natural metal finish.

  • The resin nose is made by the French company Contact -Resine and decals for the French version are also made by the French company Sud Modele Diffusion which releases both as kit# CK32002.The modeler should supply the transparent “windows” for the cameras.

    Click on images below to see larger images

  • -Load consisting of 10 rockets, 2 bombs and 2 drop tanks.

 

Happy modeling!!

 

Emad

Photos and text © by Emad Tabsh