P-38J versus L

I'm not sure of the diffs, but it's your model, paint it OD & gray if that's what you want!

Viperdoc wrote:

I would do just that, but I want to be reasonably close without becoming a rivet counter.

Start by researching paint schemes - don't pay any attention to scale. Look at the decals available on the Aeromaster and Eaglestrike sites for P-38s. Then choose a scheme which fits your kit.

"The P-38L...differed very little from the late production P-38J. The major change was in the power plants...Additionally, the armament was changed with the addition of underwing 4.5 inch rocket launcher 'trees.' These replaced the earlier twin, three-tube bazooka type launchers...

"There were several equipment changes including the addition of the AN/AS-13 tail warning radar and mounting the gun camera in the leading edge of the left underwing bomb/drop tank pylon..."

I don't know where the gun camera was mounted before the changeover.

In addition, early Js, up to the J-10, had the rounded windshield with internal armor glass. The dive recovery flaps were introduced beginning with the J-25.

Also with the J-25, the landing light was moved from under the port outer wing to the leading edge of the port outer wing. I can't find any photos of OD/NG camouflaged P-38s with leading edge landing lights; I can find any number of NM P-38s without them.

HTH. Pip Moss I used to feel cheap 'cause I had no signature.

in article UFxOg.8238$ snipped-for-privacy@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com, Viperdoc at snipped-for-privacy@NOattglobalSPAMM.net wrote on 9/15/06 9:13 AM:

The Js had the gun camera mounted in the nose - on the centerline and just under the forward-most extension of the nose cone panel.

The location of gun camera appeture can be seen in this photo:

Cheers,