Has anyone built this?

Im looking for a balsawood kit to build with my son. He is only 8, but we had a lot of fun building 2 plastic kits last year and Im in the mood to build a balsawood kit now. I love th eP-38 and this one struck my fancy. I know this kit is a little advanced, but Ive built a few Gullows kits as a kid (starting at 8) and found them very easy and enjoyable.

I would like to keep it un-covered, just like in the picture. Not going to fly it, just hang it from the ceiling in my sons room when its done. Whould you recomend varnish or stain to make it look nice if your not planning on covering it or flying?

Rob

With the twin booms etc... It's a bit of a fiddly one IMO (more smaller pieces+ potential alignment issues). How bout a spitfire/p40 or similar?
Just my 0.02$
My eldest son is also 8; that's a great project :-) might just pick one up myself to make with him.

Good point about the potential alignment issues. I can see that becoming an issue. However, I just love the P-38 and figure Ill be doing most of it (at least the harder parts, myself). Im Hoping to teach him the benifit of having patients and taking his time to make something nice. I thought this would be a fun project and something we could display nicley when its done.

Rob

It is a beaut!

I've never seen one assembled, but I remember being surprised at how massive the box was at the hobby store many years ago. The only Guillows I ever built was the Cub, but never did paper it. If you do the build, post your progress.

I made their Dauntless years ago.
If I made it again - I would not cover it with tissue. I think you have the right idea keeping it uncovered.
The hardest part of the build for me was not the balsa and alignment - but getting the vac formed plastic parts cutout and sanded and fitting them on the plane.

I've been tempted to buy another for nostalgia's sake.
Let us know what you decide!

I've had the body assembled for about 15 years now. I will probably never complete it

The Gullows P-38 was always out of my price range when I was a kid... would look at the Gullows sales brochure for hours. lol

Be sure to sand off the part number stamps on especially on the bulkheads, for a cleaner look. Personally I would use fuel proofing dope on the wood so it doesn't turn too dark. But then again, I think it would look cool, sprayed silver so it looks like an alum frame.

Spayed Silver.., now theres an interesting idea. Ill have to think about that, but it might look pretty cool. I think Ill have to photoshop that to see what it might look like. I do like the look of the wood, especially if its been treated with something. I was thinking of a lite stain or some sort of varnish, but silver paint is a possiblity.

Rob

IMO the Guillows P38 is one of the worst models I have ever constructed. Most of the supplied wood was fuzzy, warped, soft, or just generally unusable. The vacuum formed parts were miserable to fit.

Granted, this was over 10 years ago and it's possible that they have updated their manufacturing to better wood and laser-vs-die cut parts... but definitely open the box up and see what you are up against before you buy it.

For instance, open up a laser-cut Dumas kit and compare to the Guillows one to see what I mean. That P-38 still gives me nightmares, and the guillows B-17 kit just ended up in the trash.

I started with the Hawker Hurricane, Which is a 500 series kit from Guillows these kits are not laser cut yet like some of the other series Guillows make but, other than my own inexperience I did not have any major issue with the kit.

Guillows do advise to avoid bi-plane kits if you are a beginner, more than likely due to the 2 near identical wings and the fixings of the wings, My opinion the P-38 is not really different you will need 2 identical fuselage or booms and fix the wings to both accurately not saying you can not do it but inexperience might be an issue.

That said I would advise a 500 series kit which do offer some nice warbirds and if you wandering what your are up against in terms of building these kits my build is here

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3894151/Hawker_Hurricane#Post3894151

Well, I gave it some thought and decided this kit might be a little out of my league, since I havent built a balsawood model in over 25 years. So I bought the Spitfire instead. Its lazer cut and a little easier. Im going to build this first and depending on how it goes, Then maybe ill pick up the lightning.

My plan is to build it, sand it, stain it and maybe varnish. I am not flying it, but want to leave it on display and un-covered. I think Balsawood planes look awesome when they are naked!

Rob