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P38 Lightning; Part 2: P-38J - P-38M: In Detail & Scale: Volume 19 softcover

  • SKU: 9798320373362
  • Article code: 9798320373362
  • In stock

Published April 2024, 102 pages, 80 black & white and 190 colour photographs, line drawings,1 colour profile, model kit reviews. softcover, 8 1/2" x 11"

C$ 31.95

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P38 Lightning; Part 2: P-38J - P-38M: In Detail & Scale: Volume 19 softcover

P-38 Lightning in Detail & Scale: Part 2: P-38J - P-38M: (Also Covers the F-5B, F5E, F5F and F5G Photographic Reconnaissance Variants): In Detail & Scale: Volume 19 softcover

Lockheed’s P-38 Lightning was a unique aircraft, even on the drawing board. When the prototype XP-38 first flew in January 1939, it was the fastest fighter plane of its day. It also possessed the longest range and had the heaviest armament of any fighter. Each subsequent version improved upon the preceding one. Early versions of the Lightning faced significant operational issues. British fuels in the United Kingdom had some incompatibilities with the P-38’s exhaust-driven turbo supercharged engines. In all theaters, the early Lightnings dealt with high-speed compressibility issues and chronic engine cooling problems.

The compressibility and engine cooling issues were overcome with the late Lightning variants, first delivered to the U. S. Army Air Forces in August 1943. These aircraft were the most refined and definitive P-38s. They played no small role in the successful conclusion of World War II by the Allies, especially in the Pacific Theater.

In 1998, Detail & Scale published two books on the P-38 Lightning. These publications were very popular but have long been out of print. This publication is P-38 Lightning in Detail and Scale, Part 2. It is the second half of a pair of newly expanded, updated, and revised editions of Detail & Scale’s previous two-part coverage of the Lightning. Part 1 (Detail and Scale Series Volume 18) focuses on the XP-38 prototype through the P-38H and all associated photographic reconnaissance variants. This new P-38 Lightning in Detail and Scale Part 2 (Detail and Scale Series Volume 19) is similarly updated to cover the late Lightnings; the P-38J through P-38M variants, the F-5B through F-5G photo recon aircraft, and the Droop Snoot and Pathfinder special-purpose variants. The XP-49 and XP-58, which were based on the Lightning, are also briefly examined.

This publication features expanded and revised historical overviews of the later-model P-38s, along with detailed descriptions of each variant. Also included are numerous line drawings, created by Lloyd Jones specifically for Detail & Scale, that point out the specific changes made to each variant as the design was continuously improved. The Late Lightning Details chapter features new and expanded content compared to the original 1998 book. The chapter is illustrated with scores of detailed and meticulously restored photographs accompanied by captions that explain both important features and subtle differences between P-38 variants. While some of these images are original archival material, the great majority were chosen from hundreds of photos taken specifically for this book by the authors and their contributors.

As is the case in all volumes in the Detail & Scale Series, a Modelers Section provides comprehensive reviews of the plastic model kits of the featured aircraft. Since the original release of this publication, the world of P-38 scale modeling has been particularly impacted by the release of the Tamiya 1/48th scale P-38J and the Trumpeter 1/32nd scale P-38L. These kits, and many more dating back to the 1960s, are examined in depth. Recommendations are made as to which kits in each scale are best, and suggestions for corrections and improvements are presented.


Published April 2024, 102 pages, 80 black & white and 190 colour photographs, line drawings,1 colour profile, model kit reviews. softcover, 8 1/2" x 11"

Detail & Scale Series

Created by author Bert Kinzey, the renowned Detail & Scale brand of books for the modeller has been around since 1978. A total of 114 books were produced up to 2004, including 69 in the Detail and Scale Series, and 24 in the Colors & Markings Series.

A brand new series of both the Detail and Scale Series, and Colors & Markings Series are now available in both digital and printed versions. Some of these are brand new titles, and some are completely updated and revised books that cover some of the subject matter of the older titles. More titles are being added regularly, so check back periodically for new releases.

They are very popular with modellers, each providing quality photographic detail of many otherwise hidden parts of the subject aircraft, including cockpits, radars, avionics, armament, powerplants, and landing gear. These books are highly sought after by the aviation enthusiast and modeller alike. These are Print on Demand books so they will never go out of print.

To be advised when an item arrives in stock please use our stock notification tool on the website. When viewing an item on the site, open the green button which says “Send Me An Email When It Arrives” and enter your address. Please Note, this DOES NOT reserve a copy of the item for you. We recommend you order the item As Soon As Possible if you receive a notification, because in some cases very limited stock may be available. Online orders are the fastest way to do this.

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P38 Lightning; Part 2: P-38J - P-38M: In Detail & Scale: Volume 19 softcover

P38 Lightning; Part 2: P-38J - P-38M: In Detail & Scale: Volume 19 softcover

C$ 31.95 (C$ 31.95 Incl. tax)