1/48 Monogram Me-262 Completed -- Bringing it back from the dead

Despite the issues you have done a really nice job on that. The gun bay and engine really add a nice touch.

Hey Bob, I see both sides of the dilemma. Sometimes I just move on to the next model with my newly learned lesson under my belt and learn something from the experience. Another point, at least for me, is that I spent some time doing something constructive (with challenges, good for the brain) and being just a model, it might be time to move on to a brand new Me-262! LOL! I am somewhat of the Devil's Advocate! Any of this help? LOL!

Max

PS--and seriously, the model looks really good visually, I still have the decals!

The fruits of your labor looks fantastic!

Toshi

Hey Bob, the offer's still good on the new 1/48 Stuka decals that I have. It looks way too cool to file away. Rip that gear off, strip those decals, a bit of Future and I'll send you a set of decals to get that machine flying again!

Max

Too bad about the gear.  It looks real nice to me.

I'm calling this one finished.  I have mixed feelings about it.  The scribing isn't that great, but not too bad for my first time.  I realized after I superglued the main landing gear in that I put them in backwards, short of ripping them out and possibly destroying my already fragile decals I decided to live with it.  I didn't replace the broken pitot tube or put on an antenna because I wanted to be done with this project.  The decals on this ruined all motivation for this project.  90% of them fell apart when I tried sliding them off the backing paper, and all of them silvered no matter what I did.  I became afraid of touching the plane after that so I didn't weather it either.  However, I am very happy with the detailing I did on it.  All the wiring in the gun bay, engine, and landing gear bay looks more than good enough for me.  On to the next.

The Tamiya kit came with R4M rockets that were under the outboard wings in a sort of washboard plate.  Tamiya called for red brown on the plates with the color for the bottom of the airplane on the front edge.  The R4M rockets color is metallic grey XF-56.  I don't think the 262 ever carried the rocket tubes that were used on the Me-110 and other German fighters that they lobbed into bomber formations.

On my Tamiya version the bombs should be Tamiya XF-22 RLM grey, The bomb racks match the belly color. Mine shows no rockets nor have I ever seen one with them but does have two RATOG boosters that are XF-63 German grey. 

Max

Hey Bob, the project is lookin' good. I rummaged around last night and found a new 1/48 decal set for a Stuka that would have worked but I see this morning that you successfully stuggled through. Good job. 

As for the alignment, my 262 looks the same and yours looks fine. It is a weird shape for sure and I think it's just the viewing angle.

Comments from Max!

I see some very small issues but everything still looks great.  Keep pushing forward, this project is coming along just nicely!

Toshi

I found it hard to see what was straight when I was decaling the 262 I did recently, especially on the aft fuselage.  Odd shapes there to my eye.

That still looks good, Bob. Yeah I see a little misalignment, but it's not so bad at all.

Overall, it's looking great.  :)

Well I got all the decals on.  They certainly aren't pretty.  I noticed after I took some pictures that some of the decals are tilted or not lined up right.  It's the best I could do with the decals falling apart in the water.  I still need to do some touching up, but I want to seal them first.  And somehow, the red circle on one of the engines disappeared.  It was there the other day and now it's not.  I've also decided not to do a panel line wash or weather since I'm afraid of the decals disintigrating further.  Here's where I'm at.

Don't give up! 

silentbob33

No promises though, my short term memory is shot.

Me too. 

Can't wait to see this one finished. Terrific detail.

Here are the pics of where I'm at.  I'm hoping to start getting decals on this week.

Hey Bob, after building several WWII German aircraft and researching each and every model, I'm noticing that there is usually no two painted alike and perhaps the painters started with a new pallet each time or it was painted how the famous pilot wanted it. Unless you're building a one of a kind aircraft I've stopped worrying about it and just paint them "German like." or like it is my own personal aircraft. Almost every build I try to imagine how I would have it personally painted now and then. I usually use up all the "kill" decals and sometimes just use the best features of the day combined for the best overall look as a representation for the museum. I know, some of you will say that it's not historicly accurate but it's just an imagination thing and that's how I would have marked my personal aircraft of the day. OK, most are fairly accurate but it's how I try to connect with history and it is fun which is what modelling is all about! 

Der Blue Max