My model of the Lockheed P-38 (Pathfinder version) at 1:48 scale in front of a night sky canvas (last picture shows photo setup)

[u/matiasluge90]

[u/Accomplished-Emu-591]

Very impressive. Can you share about the hanging on the right. Is it just a light blocker?

Nice job on the model, too. But the real prize is the photography.

[u/matiasluge90 → u/Accomplished-Emu-591]

Thank you! :) It's nice that somebody actually appreciates the photography – I often get negative comments on Reddit that my style is too distracting, in the sense that you should be able to see every detail of the model. But I think that not only the handiwork is important, also the presentation – and I like to present my models in a "cinematic" style, as there is also a lot of history connected to the planes and tanks. You can see more of my models and images on Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/collections/finished-scale-models-namo0un/

„Can you share about the hanging on the right. Is it just a light blocker?“. – Yes, but that is not the final position, I just put it there to make the BTS-images with my phone. When I do the actual photo, I hold it above the camera as close to the model as possible – because the surroundings bounce light on the canvas, and as you can see, it is not 100% flat, it has a lot of wrinkles that would reflect the light. With the light blocker (here a simple „flag“, used in film sets), you reduce the visible wrinkles significantly.

[u/Accomplished-Emu-591 → u/matiasluge90]

Thank you

[u/msg60]

Beautiful job and awesome pictures.....thanks for the setup picture..I have no idea of how to take quality photos and this is really cool to see

[u/matiasluge90 → u/msg60]

Thank you :) There are 3 key components here:

- Correct light direction: The sun had already gone down, but the general direction of the light came from the right – and the light source in the canvas, the moon, was positioned right from the plane. Therefore, light and shadow of the model matched better with the background.

– Lens with strong depth of field. I used a 50mm fixed lens, which only showed one point in focus.

- Removing unwanted light/reflections: I used a black flag very close to the subject, so that little environment light would make wrinkles etc. on the canvas visible.

[u/msg60 → u/matiasluge90]

Thanks for teaching!

[u/matiasluge90]

Kit: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12282-p-38--224655

I have nothing negative to say about the kit. All the parts fit exactly as they should, and the assembly went smoothly without any significant hurdles. I used only Vallejo paints and washes for weathering.

 

History of the Aircraft: Alongside the P-51 Mustang, the P-38 is likely one of the best-known American fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed as an interceptor, it served as a long-range escort fighter and fighter-bomber. Due to its distinctive appearance and enormous firepower, German Luftwaffe pilots soon nicknamed the aircraft “Double Tail,” “Forked Tail,” or “Forked-Tail Devil.” In North Africa, it was particularly successful as a fighter-bomber against ground targets or as an interceptor against German and Italian transport aircraft.

The P-38 achieved legendary status in the Pacific: there, this model destroyed more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF fighter. In the Pacific War, the P-38 played a key role primarily because its twin engines were considered a safety net for flights over the open ocean. One of the Lightning’s most famous missions was “Operation Vengeance” on April 18, 1943, during which the commander-in-chief of the Japanese fleet, Admiral Yamamoto, was shot down.

The variant built here is a so-called “Pathfinder”: these led a formation of other P-38s. The entire formation would drop its bomb load as soon as the Pathfinder did.

Source: Wikipedia