How to Build the FT Master Series P-38 Lightning // BUILD 

You are a super hero. Thank you so much for giving us this. I hope this kit is never taken down and never goes away, or your video be removed. Thank you so much for being a real american and a friend.

JOHN OVERSTREET, thanks for another brilliant Model!!! *Trying to make a long story short...* My Dad was one of those Rockstars in the USAF! Among his impressive list of friends was the Chief Designer of this Aircraft, Kelly Johnson. 😎😎 One of the amazing things he told me was - "No matter how good you are, and how good your work is, always have a different pair of eyes look at it." With that, I offer my humble suggestion, as a nobody who can only DREAM of affording a Master Series Kit - and the Electronics to go with it. I was also in the USAF, nowhere near the level of my Dad. I'm now disabled, and trying to Fly RC on less than a shoestring budget. (I am drooling over that P-47 though!) All of your Designs so far, have been amazing and have elevated the Foam Core Board Aircraft!! But they share one issue... Uneven and sometimes separating seams along the bottom. NOT the end of the World, but if you're interested, I've developed a very simple solution, that makes your Beautiful Planes even BETTER. When building the Fuse, or in this case Booms... Right after the bottom seam has cooled, before adding or cutting anything else, I cut a 1/2" strip of Brown Paper (or White) and Glue it along the Seam. Usually with Wood Glue. It sets in 5-10 minutes, cures in about an hour. What you're left with is an extremely strong, even and smooth Seam line - that will hold its shape, and NOT pull apart. In ANY Weather!! 👍👍😊 Looks pretty good too. Carmine ✈🚂🚙

The "Go ahead and..." count, has achieved Master Build level!!! Great design, John! Thank you, Sir!!!

Building my second one today , along side the modified A-10 i have started. I cant wait to show you guys my mods. Landing gear , edfs , Arduino flight controller with PS3 controller. LORA radio. FPV. IMU with GPS . Altimeter and Pitot tube air pressure differential sensor for air speed. etc. LOVE YOUR FACES> you are keeping me sober now going on 3 years. thanks flite test.

That Spitfire on the bench at the start is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Who else thinks this is the best FT plane yet??? and oml that silver paint job they gave it is so beautiful

Design - OutFreakin'Standing! Building - UnFreakin'Real! Camera Work - InFreakinCredible! Editing - Freakin'Epic!! Many Freakin'Thanks!!!

HOW ABOUT SOME PLANS? BEAUTIFULLY DONE!! GREAT JOB, JOHN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPER CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOBBY!

Definitely the master of the master series.

ive ordered my p38 master kit. it will be here tomorrow!!! i cant wait!!! ive watched this video 2 times already to prepare myself but im going to watch it as im doing the build as well. thanks guys for the video

I'm really excited to see the P-51 Mustang.

Im gettin the mini corsair, and all im gonna say is im under 20, and you guys inspired me to get into real airplanes; i only have a sim, but my friend has an as3x and ive gotten good at flying. Thank you for these amazing videos i like them.so much that i literally watch them for fun.

time flies when you're having fun but +3 hours is a long shoot @.@ thanks for y'alls hard work Overstreet fam and Flite Test!

This looks like a beautiful bird and I can’t wait to build it

Well, found the Bob Ross of RC building! 👍

Holy moly that's a heck of a build!

Yo I'm 10 and I am going to ask for this for Christmas this is amazing!

This video has made me realize what a lovely plane the lighting is make a lovely model to , 👍👍👍👍

*THANK YOU!!!!* 😎👋👋👋 I've trainspotted that beauty in the background for a WHILE!! Carmine ✈🚂🚙

Scratch building this beauty is a challenge for shure. Started yesterday with a downsized version (55%, 80 cm wingspan) You should make a mini kit☺️

Great video ! Great plane ! I have got to build and fly one . Thanks John !

Finally it's here, I'm so happy right now

theres a spitfire in the background and its the new master series one. Killer job!

Canadians say "Eh?" Americans say "Let's go ahead" 🤣🤣🤣 amazing work, throw in the occasional next and then for me next time though 😉👍🇬🇧

This is fantastic!! How about a mighty Mini version?

Just finished the vid... great build. I’m sold. I’m buying the Speed Build kit... I’ll download the plans for replacement parts, that of course I’ll never need. 🤣😂🤣🥰

Flite Test Tech ,are truly Masters at what they do ,thanks John ,great stuff every single time.

You are a legend John. Thanks for a great build video.

Beautiful design - thanks John and Flite Test!!

Seriously those who clicked Dislike should never watch Flite Test anymore

Awesome build by the way as well the P38 was always my favorite my grand father flew them in WW2

Wow. It really is like the Bob Ross of foamboard.

I've been waiting for an FT-P38 for years! Can't wait to start my scratch build!

Good job John! I REALLY like the FT Master Series P-38 Lightning!

So happy that this has seen the light of day for the rest of us (think I've seen it in the background of a few videos for about 6 months or so); There are three planes that I've always loved the DHC-2, Long-Ez, and the P-38 and you guys have excellent versions of two of them

I have been waiting for this for so long!!!!!

I will order this plane in the near future, that's for sure! What an amazing piece of art you made, I'm staggered!

Good morning to the people who woke up with this on

Hi John, Thanks for your expertise with these foam board planes, and the ability to show us how to build these great models. This P-38 is my third speed build kit, it was a challenge to be sure, but it turned out pretty good. My issue now is with the location of the CG, I have contacted Flite Test support with very little success. Their recommendation is to use the 45mm CG located from the leading edge at the wing root. I would have to put approximately 490 grams (1lb) in the nose. When I followed the CG instructions found on the Flite Test site by James Whomsley, the CG is not even close to the 45mm. It came out to approximately 80mm. Please if you have any insight to this issue, I may be completely wrong with my calculations, please enlighten me. I would love to have more than one flight. Have a good day. Jim Welch

OH MY GOD 3Hours video it is amazing This must be challenged as fast build competition (A.K.A new flite test video idea)

Wow! El P-38 lightning... me gusto el modelo... uno de los cazas bimotores de la segunda guerra mundial... quedo muy bueno el color, si lograrian realizar tambien el Me-262 caza aleman a esa escala estaria mas que satisfecho...

not my kind of plane but i would build it because it's soooooo awesome!

I would love to be able to buy a FliteTest speed build kit or even the correct foam. But I'm from Brazil and the shipping from the US is unreal. 😕

I it a good work and it takes long time we can use aluminum metal plate and we will shorten the times and will became our project air plans more solid and power so to get rid of glue,it takes too much time so may in high speed destroys,aluminum plates is cheap and flexible easy made,thank you for this cool work.

Nice work John. I’m going to have a go at this!

I also keep seeing a B-25 which exciting about and I hope it has bomb doors

Having a lot of fun with this build! I might have missed it but are we installing the power pods with barbeque skewers? Or just glue?

I am assuming of course that he is going to setup the plane with contra-rotating power. Many were equipped with both .50 caliber and 20 Millimeter. The .50 cal. should show different barrel lengths sticking out as the guns were staggered to allow the feed belts to be properly attached.

Do somenone know when will free plans be avaible ? Can’t wait to build it ! 😊

Yay!!!! Finally!!!! Lol thanks, deffinatly going to build some

Love what I see, it's a must try

I think you beat the "go ahead and" record set by Bixler on the FT delta... he did it in half an hour though!

John you are a legend and your designs are absolutely sublime ! Keep up the good work :)

Thank you John! Can’t wait to build this. What are the expected dimensions of the monster foam? Still 20”x30”?

Since you are relatively open to suggestions from the community, I would like to see an ME BF109 from you. Since it is ranked as one of the most iconic planes of WWII. Also it would be nice to see a German plane for a change. Maybe I'll design it myself an send you the plans.

Thank you FLITETEST i loved this plane ♥️♥️♥️♥️

I love watching these videos, however I have never made or flown any of these. In saying that, can anyone tell me why the glueing and removal of the glue in the aileron crease? Is this a strengthening strategy for the crease?

CHAPEAU YA PA A DIR LE MODELISME DEVIENT FACILE MILLE BRAVO

This is brilliant!! I would love to build this model!! But,why does the sound for the fast forwarded bits sound like Jeremy added it in post processing?

You guys need to make a yf-23 speed build kit

Sweet! Let's do this!

When test-fitting the cowls, wouldn't it be prudent to draw a tick mark across the seem to make lining it up post-glue a little easier and quicker?

I wonder how well this kit would be for a template so I can use sheets of thin aluminum instead of foam board. I don't know how to weld aluminum so I'll have to use another method for securing the pieces together and I'll need much stronger motors too.

Well? I have the wing done, Are there any free plans yet? I really want to scratch build another one along with the kit.

I would like to better repair my kit. When will you release the build plans?

Just waiting for that new spitfire release

Where can I find the plans for this build?

Have you added landing g gear on this design

Just out of curiosity. Did he start his own engine? I don't think he did or knows how to do it. And you mixed up all the servos, and started again.

Are the plans available? Or this is a departure from FT's M.O.?

Are plans available yet for this one

Who else is 2.5 hours deep just cause u like to see John overstreet build 😴

I love watching this guy built . One thing I dont understand though . On a few parts he breaks open the score line then glues it back shut . Why wouldnt you just not do the score line in the first place ?

Now for the f14 or 16

if you buy it do you have to buy the controll?

Soooo cooool!! I cant wait to hit this! I better practice making an easier one first tho right!!

Ha the best ,flitetest

Amazing!!!

hi, on your fit for the windows matching for the motor box... what about adding the box before you glue to ensure a perfect fit. not permanent, just to help align while you glue?

My speed build kit does not have the leading edge notch for boom alignment on either wing, and I didn't see it on the plans either. Anyone have a measurement for the leading edge notch? Thanks!

Brother I dont know how many times I heard people at Flitetest tolled us about free download, but never ever have I could find where they are !!!? So If it is possible, if there is anything there I and I am shore many others will be Grateful too. :) Thank you for sharing a wonderful video. I do hope that You shave

GREAT Build Video John, I am a member of a local Club here in Washington State, MRRCS,and we are blessed to have a paved runway, Will you be releasing a version with landing gear for this beauty, I understand that it would not be re-tracks but it would be nice to takeoff and land on pavement! ;)

I haven't been able to figure out why the boom pieces are scored down the center line. Ive seen something similar where you break a score line only to glue it in other build videos. Can you explain this please?

NIIIIICE 👌

glue the servo connectors together. i taped them like he did and they came apart in the wings. I've had to cute open the bottom of the wing in the middle and next to the servos. Huge roadblock makes me want to not finish it.

why no prop cone spinner?

Please can I have a tiled A4 printable plan for this P38 please? If you ever add a Tigercat and a Mosquito I'd build them too! 😎🤘👌👍

Does anyone know if they supply all the electronics like engines and controller and stuff inside of the diy kit

it's a bit disconcerting that about a 1/4" needed to be cut off when the upper wing halves were joined in the center. are the cutout parts (and the plan) "off" by that much, or is it variability in assembly?

Awesome build! Where's the flight video?!

Hi John, great video again, when are we likely to have this released

Can you please tell me where is the CG on this plane ? Thank you John and nice job !

I’m so nervous to do this

Is there a FPV kit that would go with this DIY kit? I have a field perfect for smaller planes and quadcopters, but bigger planes need to fly above the tree line and I'm not comfortable with the plane so far away and possibly out of sight without FPV which I am looking into trying out.

Why is this kit not offered any more?

And how do you get the speed built kit

What size retractable landing gear should I get for this.

what is its final weight?

I'd like to see a foam board faukker DR1

awesome rc plane :o but all flite test foam board in belgium are in backorder :'( no building for me :'(