Even for its age, this is a nice, honest representation of a P-38L from Academy. Everything you need is included, plus a few extra bits for an F-5 and 'Droop Snoot' at a later date if required. The inclusion of masks is really nice as is the excellent decal sheet from Cartograph. The underside of the wings is correct in that it accurately includes the fuel pump blisters that were present on late J's and all L's and, of course, the compressibilty flaps. Don't forget the prop rotation and blade pitch, Gary. As seen from the front on a P-38, port engine props rotated c/wise and starboard, anti/c/wise. This really is a great package. Yes, there's Hasegawa's offerings and, the ultimate in 1/48, the sublime kits from Tamiya but there's absolutely nothing wrong with this item. Bravo Hobby 2000.

I like that they include paint masks, I’m tempted to get this and if I butcher it I’d make a ‘Maid of Harlech’ diorama.

LOOKS LIKE VERY NICE MOULDING FOR A 30 YEAR OLD KIT, LOOKING FORWARDS TO THIS ONE

The wing airfoil of the P-38 is a NACA 23016. It’s not a laminar flow airfoil, which has its maximum thickness much further back from the leading edge.

Longer video is fine. We can always fast forward if we need to.

It'll turn out real nice when finished mate. I did some checking if The pilot Wm Pruners history correlates with those mission markers on the decal sheet n they do. Turns out he flew right up till Vietnam when he was executed by VC soldiers who found him sitting in his downed C47 while he was delivering food to a starving Vietnamese city- so there's that

I always like bare metal aircraft i am looking forward to this one marra . . Regards Gav.

Back in 2019 I built the Tamiya 1/48 P38 and this was acclaimed to be an excellent really well engineered kit, but it is considerably more expensive than this original Academy kit. If you have built the Tamiya kit it would be good to bench mark this kit against the Tamiya one to see how it compares baring in mind the cost difference.

Gary, nice background where are you ? Regarding the wheel, " long story short" primarily used because of aerodynamic flight characteristics of the P-38 especially in a dive, complicity of cockpit controls and reaching them quickly , and oddly enough the different style of air combat techniques used compared to PTO and ETO . ( German and Japanese had different ACM tactics impacting P38 maneuverability characteristics). Attractive kit with just enough options to get a little creative without being parts heavy. I think the full length wing top and bottom wing halfs will help enhance the build. Cheers Bob

Nice 😊 Second favourite Lighting !

The kit is not bad, but having built it recently, the Tamiya one on the same scale is better in my opinion. Thank you for your video.

Droop Snoot. Lead bomber for a formation of "regular" P-38s. That part must be bomb sight. The bombardier was on his stomach in the nose.

I watched this while comparing with the 2019 Tamiya F/G I recently bought for just shy of £50. It too has masks And 3 ball bearings for weights. I really like the decal position poster that's to scale with the kit. That Hobby 2000 has alot more build options by the looks of it. Good luck with the Marauder before Valeriia's interview. 👍

The kit has the versions for: dropshoot (is like the mosquito bomber) = p-38 bomber, pathfinder, recon , nightfighter (p-38m)and normal version. I have the same kit but in the nightfighter box (academy)

I think this is an Academy kit originally . I actually abandoned it . The Tamiya kit is almost perfect ; might be a bit more expensive but it's a relatively complex aircraft and it goes together perfectly but needs a lot of attention . the canopy and gunsight are complicated . I suppose you will build this and give us a view of it .

Hi Gary. Thanks for the review. Hobby2000 do nice work giving good kits a bit extra. I have their Ar234 and Hs 129 (both ex-Hasegawa that haven't be released for a while). That template for the instrument panel is an odd thing. They could include a Yahu instrument panel. (Both companies from Poland - makes sense🙂). Looking forward to watching the build. Cheers Matt 🦘🦘🦘

Scandalous pronunciation of Lieutenant Gary 😉

distinct lack of p-38s in /72

Re boxed Academy kit, thought maybe it was the Hasegawa, but Academy is the better one, at least when I did some research that was what I found, the more common opinion. Academy do offer a kit with possibility to build 5 versions, and at low cost, same plastic as in this re-boxing, and one I bought. The more recent Tamiya eats this for breakfast re detail, fit, engineering but its £60 ish, which is a lot, and as good as the Tamiya is, its missing rivet details. I think, as much as I appreciate Hobby 2000s select re-boxings (I have bought a few of them) the Academy 5 version kit is, in my view, better value, albeit, it lacks the paint masks, and I don’t think the decals are Cartograph.

Прекрасная модель...но 48 масштаб не мой...мой 72.😢😂

A shame they didn't just include the decals for the non-fighter versions since they give you the parts.

Your stuff

Had to laugh - Crew Weight 200 lbs (90 kg). How many of us could satisfy that requirement?