New 3DZ model of the EAW Lockheed P38H Lightning

This P38H-5, named "Regina Coeli" was flown by Capt. Joseph McKeon, 433nd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, Dobodura, New Guinea, October 1943. Regina Coeli is Latin meaing "Queen of the Sky". McKeon scored 4 victories over the Japanese in the Pacific, and later made Ace with 1 victory against the Germans flying a P51D with the 20th FG in Europe. Shortly thereafter he was in a mid air collision over Germany and spent the rest of the war as a POW. 

These markings are designed to use in the New Guinea campaign by RockHPI. To use, choose the folder for the slot you want to use, unzip the *.tpc files, and the *.3dz files then place in your EAW directory.

I developed this completely re-made 3DZ model after Col. Gibbon sent me a Microprose model that he was trying to add boom air scoops to. He had added the shapes, but the usual rendering problems were a major problem and the work couldn't be seen from most angles. As long as I was going to tackle fixing that, I decided the entire airplane needed a make over to be an accurate representation of a P38. 

Most everything was either reshaped, moved or added to. I also did a non-mirrored medium distance model adapted to the new PCX, a repainted cockpit, and wing views specific to the skin. This skin painting is also by me.

After I rebuilt the model, I sent it back to the Col. for some work by him to make the tail non- mirrored. The shodw file is also Col. Gibbon's work. It is completely non-mirrored, courtesy mostly of the Col.s work. He contributed his solution to this and I was able to incorporate most of what he did. The entire nose, air scoops, tails, and the insignia areas of the wings are separate.

I would also like to thank Alessandro Borges for his 3DZ!Studio and 3DZ converter tools. Without these I could do nothing like this. 

Thanks, boys.

And as always, this model has an unmarked PCX included for anyone to add their own markings, with blessings from me.


Cheers,

Captain Kurt
