I admit......I am still smiling.
Weight is approx 14 pounds to 14.5. Bathroom scales lie you know.
I have posted many times about gyros. Look in old posts for my ideas.
My two cents, is that no, you do not need gyros, but do you have life or car insurance?
A P-38 will snap roll very quickly if one engine fails. It is probably the worst of the models on this and, in my opinion, the best looking in the air.
As far as when to use them.........never turn them off. If you fly coordinated, as you should with ANY twin, they are completely transparant, except the model is ROCK solid.
Add up the cost of this type of model,engines, radio, model, time, ect.
Now add approx $190 in gyros if you go the less expensive types.
The last three P-38's I have owned all now have gyros and will stay that way. Do I fly gyros on my other twins (4), no, but they are not as potentially difficult to handle......no matter who makes them.
Good Luck,
Smiling Twinman