mirce

More than two years in my work shop I have Ziroli P 38 Lightning kit. In meantime I made few others projects, but not to start work on P 38.



I have short kit cut from Lizard Laser firm...







...and full box of plastic parts, cowls, canopy...




First I want to made center wing section with pilot cabin. From so many parts I need to find which are for that...








Last September I finally start with building...







On plan spars are 12x6 mm, but here I can't find spars in that dimension. So, I made spars from 15x5 and 15x4 which glued together...



So I got much stronger spars, but need to made bigger space in every rib...



Following plan I start with work...














Very important is to both end if this center panel must be on same level, so I glued small strips...










Than I add ribs and other necessary parts...









Every part fit very nice, and all construction is very very strong...






Front part of the pilot cabin is removable...












Than I add rest of parts on bottom side...



...and with plastic nose, P 38 start look to themselves...




For better fit i add carbon rod on removable front end...






Next step was to sand fuselage and start planking it...














At the outer ribs I glued plates in which will, later, come screw for fixing outer wing panels...




Balsa was add on removable front part too...








Upper surface was almost finished...




For better support for front plastic part, I add few balsa blocks...



...than glued plastic nose with 12 minute epoxy glue...



...and finally on compound was added acrylic filler...






To made smooth fuselage I must first add few missing balsa plates...



...and after that removable part can be fit with center panel...






Ziroli made good construction for easier position of front guns.





For guns guide I used plastic tubes...






After this I start adding balsa plates on fuselage...






Next time, outer wing panels...


Regards

Mirce

MANFRED

My Feedback: (27)

Labor of love!

Mustangman40

My Feedback: (1)

Awesome, going to love watching this plane come together...

splinterz25

Very nice I'll be watching this one!

Bruce

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

Mirce
Thats good looking craftmanship,looking forward to you progress .
Semper Fi
Joe

mirce

Thank you guys...

I must be sincere, I made this model, I will made it best I can, but I want to sell it. When I bought it, wasn't take to much attention on one detail, when one engine quite, in 90% cases it's the end of the model.
A lot of work, a lot of money will be invest in this project, and I'm afraid on first engine problem chance are very big to lose P 38...

On other side, in most of my models I have Zenoah engines (G 45, G 62, GT 80), and in more than 300 flights i haven't no problem with engine. Never...
This year, on Top Gun, I was talking with Nick Ziroli, and he told me that he was take a lot of attention on engine setting. He gave me few advice how to put engine on model.

Anyway, I will made this model for two Zenoahs G-45, but if someone want to buy Lightning, I can install some other engine, no problem.

My plan is to made this model like ARF, paint it, add weathering, make cockpit, many details, installation for engines, installation for landing gears, installation for servos...
So, if somebody buy it just need to put all these parts...

We can made arrangement in which color to paint this P 38...


OK, now back to work...

I prepared plan and parts for right wing...





For outer wings I made "my" spars also. But because wing is not so big, I made double spare just on 2/3 of the lenght...







I strengthened ribs for aluminum tube, which will connection wing with center panel...



...and finally ribs...



I put plans on workshop wall to have better view on P 38...



Soon, all ribs were on positions...



To be sure that everything is in line, I use thread...





After that I glued upper spar, and add balsa plates on upper surface...





When the glue has dried I take wing from the work table...










Than I cut down aileron...







...and made space for flap, add plates for servo cower, and round wing tip...









That was it for this wing. In that moment I wasn't have wing joiner, so I made left wing.
Procedure was the same, copy - paste...


In meantime I start working on center panel again.

Canopy was timed on right shape...



Than fuselage also...











I added more balsa on fuselage. It was boring work, because i must cut narrow strips, put it in water and glued it with white glue. One two strips, and pause till tomorrow...





But, Lightning start to get shape...










In meantime I got wing joiners...




I start working on Meister Scale P 47, and here is photo which show how much is P 38 wing bigger...



Job on fuselage was finish...









Rear part...






To be continued...

Regards

Mirce

mirce

Finally all balsa strips was glued on fuselage...





After sanding, P 38 start to be one "sexy" plane...











Before cover center panel with balsa, I must put inside parts made from hard wood. Those parts used for guide for booms screws...



There are 4 parts, and every is diferent. My friend, carpenter made it for me...







I glued it in right place...










Wing joiner, and wing joiner tube are glued also...









Before cower lower center panel side, I glued plate for fixing center and outer wing panels...





Than...









I made holes for boom screws...



In outer wing panel I made system for panel fixing...













With hard wood I filed gaps, so later there will be position for flap hinges...






Regards

Mirce

wojtek

My Feedback: (73)

Mirce, thanks for this great build thread! very detailed and informative nice work!


~V~

mirce

On center wing section I put thin layer of acrylic filer. When I sand it down, surface is very smooth...











In meantime I put balsa on outer wing panels also, and same like on center section, fill it with acrylic filler.
Than I put wing together...



Transition from wing to outer panels was very good and don't need much sanding...
Working on leading edge was next step...









But before get such a nice surface, you need to made this...







This part of building is over. I put P 38 near my Ziroli Hellcat, just to try to compare this two models. But Lightning is so huge that can't find good angle for making pictures...








Next time, start building on booms...






Regards

Mirce

vik

My Feedback: (1)

Great progress

Isn´t the Pelikan standard balsa (3mm I guess) too heavy?

mirce

I bought my balsa in Hungary. Model Hungaria model shop sell two types of balsa standard - heavy and light...
But I find in another hobby shop (Zenn model) where balsa plates are much cheaper. They sell balsa from Lindinger.
I have opportunity to measure every balsa plate, so I choose what want to buy, and use always lighter balsa on rear of the model, and heavier in front...

Regards

Mirce

mirce

I wasn't write nothing about my P 38 project for almost 3 months. To be honest, I was working more on my Meister Scale Zero, but from time to time, Lightning was on building board too...

Pictures from my last topic here show that P 38 was ready for fuselage building. First I made balsa frames for fuselage ribs. Frames are long, so I need to glued two balsa strips to get right length...







Soon, frames was made...





Before adding ribs I must check plans. In kit you get one template for ribs angle...



I used it for every rib...



Little by little boom frames was finished...









Than I start working on balsa strips which connected all ribs...











At that time I bought Meister Scale Zero, so P 38 building was on hold again...



Working on P 38 wasn't so often...









Few weeks ago I take down Lightning from the wall and start working again.



First I made all flaps...









For control horns I used G 10 plate...













For made this horns I need less than 45 minutes. With ball links it look like this...



High is same like Dubro biggest horn, but it look much nicer...



I glued horns in the flaps. Unfortunately I wasn't made pictures how I made support left, right and in the middle of every horn...





On center panel flaps look like this...







Than same procedure on flaps on the wing outer panels...







To made trailing edge straight I used metal ruler...





Than I take down all flaps and add balsa plates on inner side. I made upper and lower plates purposely moved, to get better trailing edge...















Next step was to finish ailerons, which I made many months ago...









I made elevator also...







For hinges I used laser cut ply which I got with kit...







When everything was glued, I add balsa planks on both elevators part...





Than on the leading edge of the moving part I glued plastic tube, and after that balsa plates...





Leading edge was sanded to get round shape, and I made slots for ply from the front elevator part.





To cover gap between those two parts, I glued 0,4 mm thin ply...





Little acrylic filler was added for smoother transition...



... and after sanding elevator is ready for glassing...




Now I will come back to the fuselage to try to finish it. But, I'm afraid that I will not be able to finish it before buying landing gears. I read topic here on RC Universe about retracts, so right now I'm not sure which will choose.
If someone have surplus landing gear in good condition, for this model, maybe we can made a deal...

That's all for now folks...

Regards

Mirce

splinterz25

Merice ... Nice work booms are looking really good, But you opted not to go w/ fowler FLAPS?
your work is usally very scale I'm surprised, they are alot of extra work though!

Keep up the good work,

Bruce

mirce

Hello Bruce, yes I wasn't made flower flaps.
Models I made are not for some extreme scale competition and I want to have safe model for every day flying. Flower flaps are much complicated than this kind of flaps mechanism and I'm afraid potential spots for trouble.
This year I have opportunity to talk with Nick Ziroli and he told me that he never made flower flaps on his P 38.

I like to work on painting and scale details, so at that part of building I'll devote a lot of time...

Regards

Mirce

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Hello Mirce. You are building one of my favorite airplanes. My dream is a big beautiful flat-bottom wing version by Meister, but that will never happen.[&o] Dino is not fond of this airplane.

mirce

Yes Gary, I was there when you are talking with him about new Meister Scale models. My opinion is same like yours, big P 38 will be nice in Meister pallet...

Regards from Serbia

Mirce

BubbasanJohn

Well, I would think if the market was receptive to the plane, why would the owner let a personal preference get in the way of sales. And yes I have no idea what it takes capital wise to get a design to market. Was just thinking outloud.

I have a mesiter 109 and love it. I would love a meister P-38.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Good point friend. I would be very happy to build and campaign Meister P-38 to test the market which I am confident would be there. Has anyone not loved how their Meister plane flies?

Sorry Mirce, didn't intend to hijack your wonderful thread. I think I will start one for this very subject, right now, in "warbirds". Check in on it.

mirce

No hijack, this is part of same P -38 story...
Hope Dino reading this...

Regards

Mirce

mirce

Hello again...

I saw that I wasn't write nothing about this project almost 5 months. OK, to be honest, I wasn't work much on this P 38. As I told earlier, this is not my priority, so I work on this model when I haven't other model to work on.

In last few months I was working on my Meister Scale Zero, which is progressing well, I was working on my jet kit - Galeb G2

Because Lightning is "always here" I continue work on it. Building stop at the end of the last year - I need to buy landing gears. In January I order and get it. I bought LG from Robart.











Landing gear have two stages in "travel", first soft, and than last 1" is very hard...




Few days ago I bring back P 38 fuselages back in work shop...



...plans are again on the walls...



...and parts are on the table...




I need some time to remember what are next steps in this building. Lightning is pretty complicated for building. A lot of parts, a lot of drawings, so you have to look at them and studying them all.

My building was continue in two directions, first was work on and around fire wall, and other was installation of the landing gears.

In front of the fuselages, on box which will take firewals I glued top and bottom sides. I glued triangles for fire wall plate...





Fire walls are like on the plan, 10 mm ply plate.





Landing gear plate must first glue from two plates to get right thickness...



On fuselage sides you must glued some wooden parts of hard wood, on which will LG take a seat...



Next step is to glue plates, but must take care about how to turn plate. It's very important to not to turn it up side down...



When I put landing gear in hole I discovered that it can't be open because you need to made some small extra hole...







Finally everything is on place...



Now I need wheel to see how it look... Because I haven't wheels for Lightning right now, donor was Hellcat...



Shaft are exactly same, and wheel look like this...





OK, that all for today, next topic will be soon, I promise...

Regards

Mirce

mirce

Few more pictures... To see better where and how exactly looks holes for landing gears and wing, I start adding balsa plates on front part of the fuselage...







Fuselage is pretty rounded, so I wet every balsa plate with hot water and use white glue.





I worked on both fuselages parallel...




Box which carry fire wall is made on plan from 3 mm ply and I decided do add one more 3 mm ply inside. That will give more stiffening to construction.







To be continued...

Regards from Serbia

Mirce

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Gear needs to be electric.

kram

My Feedback: (7)

Fabulous work, mirce.

Thanks for sharing.

I am both fascinated and intimidated

I can't wait to see more!


mt

mirce

Thank you Kram...

Just few more pictures of building in last few days...

I continued working in front part of the fuselages, adding second 3 mm ply on the bottom of the engine box.








Next was to glue fire wall on fuselage. Ziroli show on plans that fire wall just glue on edges of the engine box and triangle parts...



First I glue those balsa triangles, but I wasn't "happy" with that idea. I want to add few screws and fix it mechanical. So I cut down triangles and glued hard wood squeezed all with few screws.







I think this is much better solution, because engine will be Zenoahs G45, which are heavy and made vibrations. Maybe glue will be enough, but with screw it's much stronger, and no chance to fire wall break out from front part of the fuselage...

Regards

Mirce

mirce

I made again big pause in my P 38 building... As I saw now, last topic was here at March 20. so, let me calculate, o man, almost 6 months...

This is one of the last my topic about this model, because I sell it. Lightning is return back in USA...
I just want to check out in this topic, hope that Sam, new owner of this model will continue, from time to time, to write about "our" project...

Today I send model from Belgrade airport...

But before that I must prepare all parts...







...and made big wood box...





Than all parts was wrapped with foam...













Box are huge, I made it to fit in my trailer...





Today I was on Belgrade airport and gave Lightning...



Scale show weight of 85 kg!!!





And, bue, bue P 38...




So, that's all from me & P 38...
Wish new owner to enjoy in building and many happy landings...

Regards

Mirce