tho I'm a bit bias
the 38 is one of the very best planes in the set. Its not great at any one thing, but its VERY good in just about everything.
You can start a fight as an "E" fighter and there are not many that will stay with you, but should you make a mistake and get slow, it will turn with just about anything.
I take 75% fuel and a drop tank. Use the tank to get you to the fight, and even do some of your BnZin with it still on. If ya have to get down and dirty, just drop the tank and go for it. In the zoom climb not much can stay with ya as you can hang on your props at 50 knots and still have some control (combat trim off or auto trimming can get you stuck in the air with nose up trim). Use vertical maneuvers to bleed other planes "E".
Only real problem with the 38 is the size, she's a big target. At medium/high speeds she rolls real well. Use this to give the enemy passes a narrow profile to shoot at, roll back and kill them as they go by.