The only really successful US twin-engined fighter of WWII was the P-38 Lightning. Often, the addition of the second engine rarely resulted in a superior fighter aircraft. The additional weight of the engine and surrounding airframe along with the need to carry a greater amount of fuel often negated any real benefit of the second engine. However, the P-38 was one of those rare exceptions to the rule. 

The P-38 could be found in all US theaters of operation. The Lightning was well liked by those who flew it, mainly due to the safety factor of the second engine. If one stopped operating, either due to combat damage or other malfunctions, the remaining engine was enough to bring the aircraft home. The larger airframe also meant that the Lightning had a greater range than most other US fighters and so was particularly useful in the Pacific where long distances were the norm. It is probably no surprise that the top two US aces of that conflict were in the Pacific and flew the P-38.

However the design of the plane did have a drawback or two. For one, it wasn't as maneuverable as most of the opposition. It also had a very large blind spot, thanks to the design of the airframe. It was easier to sneak up on than others as it had a huge blind spot to the rear and aft as well as to the side where the engines blocked a lot of the pilot's view. 

Despite these, the aircraft went on to perform beautifully. A real benefit of the uncluttered nose section of the P-38 was the ability to carry a rather heavy offensive armament of 4 .50 cal and a 20mm gun. This large area also made it a perfect candidate for a photo recon aircraft. A number of cameras could be carried in the nose and the speed of the P-38 meant that most enemy aircraft would have a tough time catching the unarmed photo recce version.

Revell produced the 1/72 version of the P-38 in several boxings, including one that would allow the modeler to do not only a regular P-38J but also the night fighter P-38M and the early photo recon version, the F-4A. The F-4A kit was also boxed by itself. This version is not exactly the easiest to find, but can be located at swap meets for around $10 or so. Frankly, despite its age, it is a worthwhile model to try to locate.

This kit was molded in the early '70s when raised panel lines were the norm. The kit consists of all that is needed to do the F-4A and includes a pair of drop tanks for under the wings. As you can imagine, the wheel wells are devoid of any detail and the doors a bit thick, but it doesn't detract from the kit.

The instructions are more than adequate, though the color callouts were all in generic colors rather than FS 595 as is the norm today. Decals were for one aircraft, based in India. These were slightly off register, but I had to use them as there really wasn't and still isn't any real aftermarket option. While there are some sheets for regular P-38s, I have not seen any for the photo recce versions.