If you think you are having a 1v1 in the Main Arena, your SA has failed you.
Awesome aircraft, giant target. People will run right past a candy factory, brothel, money printing factory, and a swarm of C47's to take a shot at a low P38. Prepare for that, and you'll be fine.Wiley.
Unless there is a Mosquito next to it....It that case they go for the Mosquito, then the P-38.
You started this thread and it was obviously about your want and desire in spite of your use of 'we' and Google.
I find that the size of the P-38 is actually somewhat deceptive. While it's certainly a fair amount of airplane that takes up a lot of space, it's also got a great big hole in the middle. Most aircraft if your lead is a bit short, you might still be able to clip off his empennage. Not so the P-38. They'll just get sucked down that black hole between the booms.
Exception to this is that of a 30mm round. The entire tail section suddenly fills in and becomes one large mass, always coming off with a hit.