1/72 P-38 Xl "brute"

[Brian da Basher]

In late 1940, with war clouds gathering in the Pacific, the U.S. Army Air Force decided it would need a fighter with incredible endurance and range to handle the vast distances involved and requested bids from manufacturers. The Lockheed Co. under Kelly Johnson submitted what was the most interesting proposal, which entailed adding two more engines to its twin-engined P-38 design. The new design was called the P-38XL and boasted not only 4 Allison engines, but also very heavy armament for its time of two 37 m.m. cannons in the wing roots and two .50 caliber machine guns synchronized to fire through the propellor arc. The P-38 XL (eXtra Long range) attained a top speed of 415 m.p.h. in level flight and an estimated range of 1,500 miles which could be extended with the use of drop-tanks. The P-38XL went from drawing board to prototype rather quickly, and the first example emerged in October, 1941. An additional five machines were ordered and were delivered between November 1941 and February 1942. Unfortunately, the "Brute" as it was nicknamed by its pilots and crews, was a bit overpowered and would've required the Allison Engine Co. to increase production by 1000% to meet the demand. Also, the synchronization gear for the two 37 m.m. wing root cannons was maddeningly complicated and it was feared that just the slightest miscalculation by ground crew would result in the pilot shooting off not just one but three of the aircraft's propellors. The project was quietly phased out in mid-1942 and Lockheed instead devoted their resources to producing twin-engined P-38s in mass quantities. The example shown here continued in U.S. Army Air Force service until 1945, used often in the aggressor role to help train new fighter pilots and bomber gunners. U.S.A.A.F. serial 2107812 was quietly parted out and the remains sold for scrap sometime afer V.J. Day.

1st of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The base kit for this project was a 1/72 Heller P-38 I picked up for $7 at the LHS after Xmas. I haven't built a P-38 since I was a lad, so I was very happy to get this kit home. Of course, since this fine board and its denizens have corrupted me so horribly, there was no way I was going to build it so it actually looked like the picture on the box...

2nd of 6 pics

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

While at the Hobby store, I also picked up a 1/72 Academy P-40B for $5. If memory serves, the P-40 also had Allison engines like the P-38. Sorting through my spare parts boxes, I also found a leftover P-51 engine. After seeing Mr Miller's fantastic enhanced B-25 with a pusher engine, an idea was born. Why not a P-38 with four engines? After some heavy styrene surgery with my new Craftsman™ rotory tool, I was all set. Here's a shot from the tail which is a giveaway to to the origins of my inspiration.

3rd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[GTX]

Brian,

Nice model, but surely adding extra engines would have the effect of reducing range rather than extending it (given the fuel tankage is constant or even reduced) - sorry to nitpick (it looks good still)?

Regards,

Greg

[Brian da Basher]

The only concessions I had to make to adding the additional engines were to scratch a fairing for the rear engine and a belly fairing for the front engine. I wanted the rear engine to ride high so the prop would have as much clearance as possible. Using part of an old pontoon, I managed to construct something that allowed it to blend in nicely. I was pleasantly surprised how that rear fairing made the canopy almost look like it was off an early P-51. The belly fairing for the front engine was constructed from the pointed tip of the same pontoon. With the addition of a little PSR, it almost looked real. I also swapped out the four-bladed P-51 prop for a three-bladed prop to match the other three on this beast. I decided the more pointed Hurricane spinner was a better look so I substituted it as well. The wing-root cannons were pieces of landing gear struts that came with the kit. Here's a shot of the underside.

4th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The entire model was brushpainted by hand using acrylics. Polly Scale PC-10 was used on the uppers and Testor's Dark Ghost Gray was used on the undersides. The exhausts and turbochargers were first painted flat black and then dry brushed with Model Masters Steel. The prop blades were painted flat black and the tips were painted cadmium yellow. The guns were painted Tamiya gunmetal and the cockpit was painted with Model Masters RAF Sky. The early W.W. II U.S. insignia were from an Eagle Strike sheet and the codes were from my collection of spare decals.

5th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

After all of Tophe's wonderful contributions to the board, I thought it was about time I did a build in his honor. While I may not keep up with his prolific posts in a timely manner, I am always inspired by them. Tophe, this one's for you!

Last of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Brian,

Nice model, but surely adding extra engines would have the effect of reducing range rather than extending it (given the fuel tankage is constant or even reduced) - sorry to nitpick (it looks good still)?

Regards,

Greg

Ahhh you're probably correct on that account, Greg. Unfortunately, engineering is not my strong suit.  :dum:  Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the build.

Brian da Basher

[Rafael]

Brian, I'm enjoying this big-time!!!  

The airframe selection is excellent!!
The pastic surgery is appropriate
the final shape of the airplane is beutiful
The four engines give it an appearnce of speed and yeah, why not, range
The paint scheme is flawles
The armament is a demolishing combination
The canopies are somewhat strange, but nicely shaped
The rear engine is faired perfectly
the overall look of the plane is - OH NOOOO!!!!,  IT HAS NO SPATS, NOOOOO!!![/size]

       

Perfect, Amigo.

Rafa

[Tophe]

This Xtra Longrange P-38XL is excellent. I love it (or her)... ^_^  

[K5054NZ]

Very nicely done, Brian! Again, not quite what I had in mind, but tons better! Fantastique! Kinda reminds me of the XP-55 in a way........but with more engines! I like it!

Cheers,

Zac

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

I like that, I'm not sure why, it's got that Airacuda thing going-on, and there's nowt wrong with looking like an Airacuda. Bet the pilot was a wee bit warm being in such close proximity to those fore & aft engines !

Great work, B da B, and no spats   ..... isn't it you that likes spats ?

Ian

[Archibald]

I just love the look of this one... concerning the range problem, not too  difficult. Add two wingtip fuel tanks, plus two or four underwings!

It remind me a bit the Focker F-23. But this one only had two engines!
Basic configuration remind some Gotha or caproni of WWI (fulls of engines).

Brilliant build, I love it!!            

[NARSES2]

Well it reminds me of a Lightning and an Asscender cross "Lightender" ?

Really neat - love it

Chris

[kitnut617]

It looks like it was intended to be like that from the beginning.  Brilliant!

Maybe to address Greg's concern, the Chain Lightning airframe (being bigger) would do. Then all the engines could get the turbocharger!

Robert