Looking for a detailed view of P38 Lightning "23 skidoo"

[Tom Morfy]

I am a model builder who is building a replica of this aircraft. I am trying to get a overhead picture of one of the turbocharger units on this bird. Would anyone know who I could possibly procure such a picture from? There was a show on TV "Combat Air Command" that featured this aircraft at one point. I would also like to find out how to access this broadcast as well.

Thanks

Tom

[Neal Nurmi]

Probably not overhead enough...

[Mudge]

I'm curious as to why the turbochargers on "23 Skidoo" would be any different than on another P-38. Educate me.

Mudge the curious

[Holedigger]

Guess the question would be are the turbos installed and operable or not? Many of the static birds do look quite different from plane to plane, I would assume missing bits and parts! I think I read that only P-38 Ruff Stuff has working Turbo's, is this correct?

[TonyM]

Tom,

There are a lot of very good reference books out there, including Squadron/Signal's "Walk Around" series. There's a very good photo on page 305 of P-38 turbo installation in "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II" by Paul Eden, et al. Can't emphasize more the importance of the all the good reference books out there. Check them out. Might be time to hit the library or visit a book store.

Good Luck with your research.

TonyM.

[51fixer]

I'm curious as to why the turbochargers on "23 Skidoo" would be any different than on another P-38. Educate me.

Mudge the curious

I built these up and bolted them into this P-38 when it was restored.
Most P-38s operating don't use the turbo and many aren't even there. Just a pipe sticking out.
We built these up for looks. The turbine wheel and impeller are removed along with the shaft that connected them. The lower half of the compressor housing wasn't installed as well. The upper half of the compressor housing has the mounting lugs for mounting the entire turbo. The hot section of the turbo bolts to the upper compressor housing and the top portion of that is visible as is seen on WWII examples. That is all that was installed on this P-38. The wastegate was removed as well.
So all that happens is the exhaust flows through but no moving parts exist.

Rich

[TonyM]

Rich,

You guys did a fabulous job on that P-38. Great Work!!!

I seen it up close when were flying in the airshow at Akron, Ohio, in June 2008.

TonyM.

[Tom Morfy]

Probably not overhead enough...

Hey Neal,

Not quite but a great picture nonetheless. I'm trying to determine the color shades of the turbocharger. I want to replicate them on the scale model I'm building. I think the turbo exhaust pipe is ptobably rust ed to some degree. While the turbocharger impeller and plenum may be blackish looking. Anyhow, that's the reason behind my quest for an overhead picture of these details.

thanks,

Tom

[Tom Morfy]

I'm curious as to why the turbochargers on "23 Skidoo" would be any different than on another P-38. Educate me.

Mudge the curious

I built these up and bolted them into this P-38 when it was restored.
Most P-38s operating don't use the turbo and many aren't even there. Just a pipe sticking out.
We built these up for looks. The turbine wheel and impeller are removed along with the shaft that connected them. The lower half of the compressor housing wasn't installed as well. The upper half of the compressor housing has the mounting lugs for mounting the entire turbo. The hot section of the turbo bolts to the upper compressor housing and the top portion of that is visible as is seen on WWII examples. That is all that was installed on this P-38. The wastegate was removed as well.
So all that happens is the exhaust flows through but no moving parts exist.

Rich

Hey Rich,

I'm trying to determine the color shades of the turbocharger. I want to replicate them on the scale model I'm building. I think the turbo exhaust pipe is ptobably rust ed to some degree. While the turbocharger impeller and plenum may be blackish looking. Anyhow, that's the reason behind my quest for an overhead picture of these details. Do you recall anything along these lines. Am I close in my estimation?

Thanks,

Tom

[Tom Morfy]

Tom,

There are a lot of very good reference books out there, including Squadron/Signal's "Walk Around" series. There's a very good photo on page 305 of P-38 turbo installation in "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II" by Paul Eden, et al. Can't emphasize more the importance of the all the good reference books out there. Check them out. Might be time to hit the library or visit a book store.

Good Luck with your research.

TonyM.

Thanks for the info on these references. I'll probably take a trip to the library as part of my research. Never thought of that!

Tom

[TonyM]

Here's how I paint exhaust on plastic model airplanes:

Paint the exhaust rust color and then dry brush the piece with steel.

It is close enough.

Go down to the local airport and look at the exhaust stack on real airplanes.

TonyM.

[JohnTerrell]

All of the following links provide top view photos of a few of the currently flying P-38s, inlcuding "23 Skidoo".

Hopefully they can help:

http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fi ... 38-pof.asp

http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fi ... -croul.asp

http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fi ... -lewis.asp

[51fixer]

Here's how I paint exhaust on plastic model airplanes:

Paint the exhaust rust color and then dry brush the piece with steel.

It is close enough.

Go down to the local airport and look at the exhaust stack on real airplanes.

TonyM.

Not to get too picky-
WWII or Modern day representation?
I remember in the past seeing some great color photos of Lockheed flights of P-38s showing the exhaust quite well.
Modern day P-38s have the stainless steel around the turbo unpainted while WWII would have been painted. Also todays A/C get a bath more frequently.
Other factor for color will be whether it is run in lean for cross country or combat with high power at a rich mixture.
Tan to almost white for cruise, dark brown for higher power.
Maybe Jack has some color pics.
Rich

[Dan K]

I believe "Ruff Stuff" also has working turbos.


Anyway, some links you may find useful:

http://p38assn.org/images/p38s/yippee.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/p-38 ... _012-1.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ockpit.jpg

[TonyM]

Here's how I paint exhaust on plastic model airplanes:

Paint the exhaust rust color and then dry brush the piece with steel.

It is close enough.

Go down to the local airport and look at the exhaust stack on real airplanes.

TonyM.

Not to get too picky-
WWII or Modern day representation?
I remember in the past seeing some great color photos of Lockheed flights of P-38s showing the exhaust quite well.
Modern day P-38s have the stainless steel around the turbo unpainted while WWII would have been painted. Also todays A/C get a bath more frequently.
Other factor for color will be whether it is run in lean for cross country or combat with high power at a rich mixture.
Tan to almost white for cruise, dark brown for higher power.
Maybe Jack has some color pics.
Rich

No problem---get picky if you want.

Let me make myself more clear about what I am talking about.

I am talking about the exhaust stacks and turbo itself, not the particular surface or "stainless steel around the turbo". I am not talking about the exhaust stains on the upper surfaces of the boom, just the exhaust stacks themselves. Don't recall mentioning either the stainless steel surface surrounding the turbo or the exhaust stains in my post.

Tom,

If you want to make a home-made rust pastel for brushing on plastic models, you can use the following method:

Take a piece of steel wool and put in in a cup. Pour in some water until the it just covers the steel wool. Wait about a month and the steel wook will turn to rust. Grind up this rust until it becomes a fine powder. Brushing this metal rust powder on the piece will give it an exhaust type look. This works good if the exhaust stack is steel, not stainless steel. I've used this method with good results. Practice on a scrap piece before using on the actual model.

Good luck with your model building.

TonyM.
TonyM.