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

All the little bits and bobs you're adding is going to make this old kit a show stopper for sure. Very interesting to watch your progress and I'm learning much. Thank you for posting all of this.

I think you should as well. :)

I'm already entranced by what you've done so far. Nice scratching.

I managed to finish the cockpit.  It's not my best work, but I can live with it.  The coloring around some of the instrument dials didn't really come out very well, it looks a little better in person.  I used PE seatbelts and haven't had any real problems with the same kind in the past, but today they fought me every step of the way.  Oh well.  Any comments or critiques would be greatly appreciated.

I finished up the main landing gear bay.  There are a few things I would do differently if I were to do this again, but overall I'm pretty happy with it.

With the wings dry-fit on.

Fantastic detail work, impressive!

Toshi

Bob, that's quite a project you've tackled there and it's looking good! You've got me looking at a couple of my old models that have had some crashes or early mistakes that possibly could be saved. Anyway, good work and I'm watching!  

Max

PS--There might even be hope for my old Revell brush painted Phantom that I've been dragging around for years! Hmmm.

I'm still plinking away at this, and finally ordered decals.  They should be here sometime next week.  I added some wiring to the engine as I'm planning on leaving the panel removeable.  It's not completely accurate, but it's better than what was there.

I also started wiring up the gun bay.  I realized after the fact that I messed up and added wiring to both sides when it should only be on the starboard side of the bay.  Oh well, it's on there now with superglue and I don't want to destroy it trying to fix it.  I still have a little bit of work to do in there, but it's getting closer to being done.

Any comments/criticisms are welcomed.

Hey Bob, here's a real one at Dayton which is always cool to compare to. What a treat to see a real one with cut-away engine! there might be more pix on their site.

Max

One last update for tonight.  The gun bay is just about done, all I need to do is add the supports.  The paint on those are drying so I'll be able to get those on tomorrow.  The part with the nose isn't attached yet, I still need to add some weight to stop it from being a tailsitter.  Looks like I'll have a bit of a gap to deal with though, unless I can force it into position.

Quick question for all you Luftwaffe aficionados. The scheme I'd like to do is B3+EK of 2./KG(J)54 from the Authentic Decals sheet.  The decal sheet has the colors as RLM 75 and RLM 82 over RLM 76.  After a quick Google search I was only able to find one picture of the actual aircraft here (you'll have to scroll down a bit).  The plate here only has the RLM 82 over the RLM 76.  I found a different profile that is also 82 over 76.  Looking at the black and white picture it looks like there is only one color, but it's not that great of a picture.  If it is just 82 and 76, would there be any kind of camoflage pattern on the wings or would it just be solid 82? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Some nicework there Bob.

I can't check out thoseolinks at the moment, but i have never seen a German aircraft in Europe with just one colour on the wings. I did find one image of the aircrfat with nose, wings tailand canopy missing, and it does look like only one colour along the spine, but that could just be the image. I think i would go with the decal instructions.

Was just looking through one of my referances and realised i was mistaken, i do know a German aircrfat with one colour on the wings, the He 162. A bit dumb of me really seeing as i will soon be building two. I was looking through one book which has the same images and captions as the link you posted. It does seem KG 54 had a mix with some aircraft have two colours along the top of the fuselage and otehr haveing one, which in itself was unusual. There are some better pics of otehr aircrfat which do appear to have one colour on top of the wing.

Given the late stage of the war, and the desperate situation, this would make sense, so i would say it was not the case.

Go with what you think is right. Inless you have a pic of the aircrfat your doing showing the top of the wing, you just can't be certain. I doubt the makers of the decals know for sure, chance is they just took a guess.

I went to the paint booth a few times this week.  The RLM 82 and 75 went on great and I was feeling pretty good.  This afternoon I sprayed the 76 and I should have done some masking, but I thought I could do it freehand since that's the way I usually do camo.  I must not have thinned my paint right because I got a lot of overspray onto the fuselage.  I can fix it, it's just really irritating.  I was thinking about masking with tape when I go to correct it and softening the bottom edge when I go to do the mottling.  Or I could just go with "artistic license and leave it hard edged.  Anyone have any other suggestions?

I know there's a problem with the nose area.  It should be less noticeable after I do a wash for the rest of the panel lines.

I did some touch up with the RLM 82 and I'm pretty pleased with the results.  Even though the demarcation line between the 82/75 and 76 is lower than in the references I like how it looks so I won't bother trying to fix it.  This was my first attempt at airbrushing the mottling and while it's not perfect, I can definitely live with it.  Hopefully tomorrow I can touch up the 75 and with a bit of luck I can have decals on by next weekend.

If You carry that mottling under the grey portions along the sides of the fuselage, I think you might like it a little better. Then mottle the grey along the sides also.

But then, I really liked it without the mottling. That looked really nice. :)

A very unique mottling camoflauge you have there.  I love it!

Toshi

Thats looking realnice bob, great job on the scheme.

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

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