Hobby 2000 72043 - 1:72 P-38M Night Lightning

Plastic model kit of the American Lockheed P-38M Night Lightning night fighter in 1:72 scale

Hobby 2000 72043 represents the P-38M, the night fighter version of the Lightning created by converting production day fighters. The aircraft received an intercept radar in a pod beneath the nose of the central nacelle and an additional raised cockpit for the radar operator immediately behind the pilot's position. The whole airframe was painted black, producing one of the most distinctive silhouettes in late-war American aviation.

The kit is based on Dragon mouldings that reproduce the specific features of the M version. Hobby 2000 adds its own box, illustrated instructions, self-adhesive masks for the glazing and waterslide decals printed by Cartograf for two marking options: a night fighter squadron aircraft from 1945 and a machine from the occupation of Japan in early 1946.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with nacelle, tail boom, wing and detail parts
• Night fighter specific parts: radar pod and raised operator's canopy
• Clear parts for the cockpit glazing
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72043
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 160 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 220 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Assembly:

As with every Lightning, correct alignment of the tail booms and horizontal stabiliser is critical - assembling this section on a flat surface and checking the geometry before the cement cures is worthwhile. The M version adds its own features: the radar pod under the nose and the second, raised position behind the pilot, both of which need careful fitting to the nacelle. The interiors of both cockpits are best painted before they are closed up.

An overall black night fighter finish is a challenge in itself - flat black absorbs light and flattens the model's shapes. Lightening the centres of panels while airbrushing and using a light-toned wash in the panel lines restores definition. Decals applied over a gloss coat are less prone to silvering, and a satin or semi-matt varnish makes a suitable final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Fine modelling tweezers
• Airbrush or brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• A light-toned wash to accentuate detail over the black finish

About the aircraft - Lockheed P-38M Night Lightning:

The P-38 Lightning was designed in the second half of the 1930s as a long-range twin-engine interceptor, with its characteristic layout of two tail booms and a central nacelle housing the pilot and the entire gun armament. Grouping a 20 mm cannon and four machine guns in the nose gave highly effective concentrated fire. The Lightning was the only American fighter in continuous production throughout the United States' participation in the war.

The need for a night fighter in the Pacific arose before purpose-designed aircraft reached units in sufficient numbers. The interim solution was to convert day Lightnings: a pod with intercept radar was mounted under the nose of the nacelle, and a cramped raised position for the radar operator was added behind the pilot under a separate canopy. This produced the P-38M, built in small numbers by converting P-38L airframes.

The aircraft entered service in the final weeks of the war and had no significant combat impact, but they remained with night fighter squadrons during the occupation of Japan, flying patrols into early 1946. Today the P-38M remains one of the rarest and most distinctive Lightning variants - with its black finish and twin canopies it cannot be mistaken for anything else.

Original aircraft specifications (Lockheed P-38M Night Lightning):

• Length: 11.53 m
• Wingspan: 15.85 m
• Height: approx. 3.9 m
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 9800 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and radar operator)
• Powerplant: two turbo-supercharged Allison V-1710 inline engines of approx. 1475 hp each
• Maximum speed: approx. 650 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 13,000 m
• Armament: one 20 mm cannon and four 12.7 mm machine guns in the nose
• Special equipment: intercept radar in a pod under the nose, additional operator's cockpit
• Production: 1945, approx. 75 examples converted from P-38L airframes

About the manufacturer - Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that has built its position on themed releases. Its kits are based on mouldings from established manufacturers - in this case Dragon - completed with original packaging, new illustrated instructions and fresh waterslide decals printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf. Most aircraft releases also include self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing, which noticeably simplifies painting. The brand favours subjects connected with Polish aviation history as well as less obvious episodes of the Second World War and the post-war years, selecting its marking options from archival material. Production runs are limited, so individual releases are often sought after by collectors. For the modeller this means proven, well-detailed mouldings combined with subjects not available in the original boxings. The company's catalogue covers aircraft, vehicles and ships in scales from 1:72 to 1:35.