Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Nick Ziroli Giant-Scale Short Kit

114" P-38J Lightning

The iconic twin-engine, twin-boom interceptor in giant scale — with a complete, honest list of everything else you'll need to finish it.

Buy the Kit — $634.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

114 in

Length

82 in

Scale

1/5.3

Weight (AUW)

38–42 lb

Power

2x 38–75cc gas

Wing

Three-piece

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was unlike anything else in WWII — a twin-boom, twin-engine interceptor with a distinctive central nacelle that made it instantly recognizable over every theater. Nick Ziroli's giant-scale design captures that iconic silhouette in full, with all the structural complexity that makes it the most ambitious build in the Ziroli lineup.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

114-inch Ziroli P-38J Lightning twin-boom RC warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
Three-piece wing rib set
Twin boom structures and nacelle parts
Central fuselage / gondola formers

⬇ Download Pack List (PDF)

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Ziroli — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
2x engines or motors, cowls, canopy, landing gear, covering, electronics
Spinners, fuel tanks, props, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. Where Ziroli sells a part directly, that's noted; where there's a choice (like gas vs. electric power), both paths are laid out.

Power System

The P-38 requires TWO matched engines — one per boom nacelle. Ziroli specifies 38–75cc gas per side. Counter-rotating props are scale-correct and cancel torque. Electric is a well-documented modern alternative.

GAS — designer spec

Engines (x2)	2x matched 38–75cc gas, one per boom nacelle. DA-50R or DA-60 popular. Must be identical.	Desert Aircraft
Fuel tanks (x2)	Dubro or similar tanks, one per nacelle, sized to engine	Ziroli
Spinners (x2)	Matched pair; verify size against chosen engine prop shaft	Tru-Turn
Counter-rotating props	One standard + one reverse rotation; scale-correct and cancels torque	Falcon / specialty

ELECTRIC — researched alternative

Motors (x2)	2x matched outrunners, ~50cc class, 190–230 KV. Must be identical. One is reverse-rotation.	Specialist RC retailer
ESCs (x2)	2x matched ESCs, one per motor. Program identically; drive from separate channels or mixer.	Specialty RC retailer
Battery	12S LiPo (2x 6S in series); balance battery position carefully for CG	Specialty RC retailer
Counter-rotating props (x2)	One standard + one reverse rotation; matched diameter and pitch	Falcon / specialty

Heads up — Both ESCs must be programmed identically and throttle-synced. Asymmetric thrust on a P-38 is very difficult to control. Run both motors on the bench at the same time before the first flight and confirm they spool up and down together.

Cowls

Designer sells

P-38 nacelle cowls (x2)	One per boom nacelle — fiberglass layup	Ziroli
Central nacelle nose	Central gondola nose section	Ziroli

Canopy

Designer sells

P-38J canopy	Vac-formed canopy for the central nacelle	Ziroli
Canopy rail set (warbirds)		Ziroli

Landing Gear

Tricycle — 3 legs

Main retracts (x2)	One per inner boom nacelle; Robart or Geartech equivalent	Ziroli
Nose retract	Central nacelle nose gear	Ziroli
Air kit	Robart 157VRX w/ tank & quick disconnects	Ziroli
Retract control valve	Ultra Precision UP-8 retract control valve	Ziroli

The P-38's main gear retracts into the inner boom nacelles — confirm nacelle clearance and retract mechanism size before purchasing.

Servos

7+ channels

Ailerons	2x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudders	2x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing (one per boom)	Builder preference
Throttles	2x 50 oz-in (separate channels for each engine)	Builder preference
Gear	1x 50 oz-in	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Airframe	1 oz fiberglass cloth + ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Elevator & rudders	Iron-on cloth (Solartex)	Specialty RC retailer
Vinyl graphics	Multiple P-38 schemes available	Ziroli

Scale Accessories

All from Ziroli

Pilot figure	WWII American USAAF	Ziroli
Instrument panel	Ready-made scale P-38 cockpit panel	Ziroli

Hardware

Wing tube set	Three-piece wing joining hardware	Ziroli
Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan; dual-rudder setup requires careful routing	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	114 in
Fuselage length	82 in
Scale	1/5.3
Weight (AUW)	38–42 lb
Power	2x 38–75cc gas (one per boom nacelle)
Wing	Three-piece
Gear	Tricycle — nose wheel + main gear in boom nacelles
Wing area	1,625 sq in
Wing loading	54–60 oz/sq ft
Min. radio channels	7+ (throttle split for each engine)

Specs from Ziroli's published P-38J Lightning plan. The P-38 requires two matched engines — one per boom nacelle. Counter-rotating props are the scale-correct choice and cancel torque between the two engines.

Nick Ziroli

Pioneer of giant-scale RC aviation, known for meticulous scale accuracy and structural integrity. Ziroli sells nearly every model-specific accessory for this kit directly, including twin-engine nacelle accessories and scale detail parts.

(631) 467-4765 · Plans must be purchased separately from Ziroli (copyright).

Get Ziroli Plans

The Build Journey

The P-38 is the most complex build in this catalog — two engines, three wing panels, twin booms, tricycle gear, and a separate central nacelle. Treat these time estimates as a rough sense of scope.

Where a short kit saves you time

Ziroli's plans include full-size templates for every part including the twin boom structures. A short kit removes the entire cutting stage for all of it.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, boom former, nacelle part, and wing panel from raw stock, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

All boom structures, nacelle parts, and wing panels arrive laser-cut. Skip straight to assembly.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Boom & Nacelle Assembly

Building the twin tail booms and engine nacelles.

Build port boom structure
Build starboard boom structure
Build both engine nacelles
Install retract bays in boom nacelles

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

Three-piece wing with main gear mounts.

Build the center wing section
Build port outer panel
Build starboard outer panel
Join and align all three sections

Stage 3: Central Gondola

The pilot's central fuselage nacelle.

Build the gondola formers
Install cockpit and nose gear bay
Fit canopy frame
Join gondola to wing center section

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Twin-engine system setup and pre-flight.

Install both engines / motors
Plumb tricycle gear (3 legs)
Match and sync both throttle channels
Verify CG with all equipment fitted

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. You'll also need the Ziroli plans, two matched engines or motors, twin nacelle cowls, a canopy, tricycle landing gear, covering, and radio gear. The Everything Else You Need section above lists each item.

Two — one per boom nacelle. Both must be identical for symmetric power. Counter-rotating props (one standard, one reverse-rotation) are the scale-correct choice and cancel torque between the two engines.

Yes, and many builders choose electric. You'll need two matched outrunners (one reverse-rotation) on matched ESCs, driven by separate throttle channels or a mixer. Both must spool up identically — test on the bench before the first flight.

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (copyrighted). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most model-specific accessories.

Tricycle — two main gear legs retract into the inner boom nacelles, and a nose gear retracts from the central gondola. Confirm nacelle clearance and retract sizing from your plan before buying the gear.

Ziroli specifies 38–75cc gas per engine (two engines total). Desert Aircraft DA-50R or DA-60 are popular choices. Both engines must be identical. The finished model weighs 38–42 lb.

No. The short kit is wood parts only. The nacelle cowls and canopy are sold separately by Ziroli and are listed with links in the accessory section above.

114" wingspan, 82" length, at 1/5.3 scale. Typical all-up weight is 38–42 lb with both engines. These figures come from Ziroli's published P-38J Lightning specification.

Ready to Build Your P-38J Lightning?

Buy the 114" P-38J Lightning Kit — $634.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

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