ME-262: Reich Defender II 10/09-7/10

Finally, some indesputable proof that I'm actually working on this kit:

-Fred

Wow nice job on the pit. Everything looks great.

                                                                                        Soulcrusher

Thanks guys .  I didn't think the office would ever get finished.  I lost all the original PE levers (they'd pop off every time I turned around), so I ended up making my own from PE fret with CA knobs.

The wiring, I've yet to see hard proof of the nest of wiring from behind the IP, but every picture of any built kit, has it, so I figured somebody must have gotten this info from somewhere.  I've seen pics of wiring coming down behind the IP, near the right rudder pedal, so the wiring must be coming from somewhere.  But I guess none of the rebuilt birds have the IP wiring intact.

The sight is PE, but it refers to film A and film B for the sight glass, but there's no such animal in either the PE set or the original kit.  I ended up making those from a blister pack from the new clamps I recently purchased.

And after the picture was taken, I decided to add an O2 hose on the left hand side.  I came across an old B&W pic that had something that looked like an O2 hose coming from that side, so I decided to add one.  Only problem is, I have no idea what the end looks like.  Thankfully, I was able to tuck the end so it's really difficult to see.

Now on to the rest of the plane.  After the gun bay, the rest should be a breeze.

-Fred

soulcrusher wrote:

Wow nice job on the pit. Everything looks great.                                                                                         Soulcrusher

Very nice Fred!

I was thinking about starting on mine but I might wait after seeing that... don't wanna bore anybody!

Thanks again, guys.  I hope the rest of the build goes this well.

Frank, which Trumpeter kit did you get?  Their 1/32 kit has incredible amounts of detail.  The engine has to be made up of over 50 pieces, easily.  Based on details in the cockpit, it looks like they used Aero Detail no.9 as a reference as well.  The book has details that I haven't seen elsewhere, that are replicated in the Trumpeter kit.

Now, here's a question for maybe some 262 experts.  The AD book has line drawings that show bottles of compressed air, behind the gun bay.  From the side view drawing, it shows 4 bottles.  Does anyone know if there were only 4 bottles, or were there 4 on either side (for a total of 8)?  Also, were these bottles for cabin air or were the guns pneumatic?

Thanks,

Fred

Fred- I do not know how many compressed air bottles there where.

They where used to clear the Pnuematic guns in case of Jamming & to blow the gear down in emergency.

Hope that helps.

I have looked online & cannot find Aero Detail #9...is there a PDF version available??

Kannichiwa Jason

Hey Jason,

If you put "aero detail 9 pdf" in a google search, you'll get a few hits for a downloadable file.  Now, I don't know the contents of files or the legitimacy of the sites, so enter at your own risk, as the saying goes .

Now, if you want a hard copy of the book, HLJ.com was the only place I can find that actually carries it.  The price is about average for Aero Detail books, but shipping to the US is high.  Maybe, because you're in Japan, it'll be cheaper for you.  To offset the shipping, I also orederd the one for the Mosquito from them, which is supposed to be the best Mosquito reference available, to date.

-Fred

 Hey Fred, That's stunning work your doin...Very Cool

 Mo

Fred, your pit is fantastic.  I have just recently finished this part of my kit and I boggle at the detail that you were able to get in there.  I was going crazy trying to get roughly a quarter of the level of detail that you have there.

I've been able to get a little bench time this week and have completed my pit and gun bay.

I also finished the forward landing strut along with the actuator.  Painted with German dunkel grau with foil on the shiny part (I forget the name of that part of the gear).

I have begun buttoning up the fuselage.  With the day off tomorrow, there is a chance I'll get significant work done.  Next up is the wings with all the after-market work I have planned for those, the forward slats and all the flaps.  Oh joy!!!!!

Gigatron wrote:

Frank, which Trumpeter kit did you get?

I got the 1/32 ME-262A-1a "Heavy Armament" version, kit number 2260.  What an impressive box of styrene I must say!   I will second the Aero Detail books, very impressive notes, drawings, and reference photos.  I own about 8 of them, and love just thumbing through them sometimes.

Steven- Great work on your kit, the gear look fantastic!  The shiney part of the gear legs are the oleos.

Fred, that is some awesome work youve done to the pit. Really top class. Looking forward to our next installment.

Stephen, another beauty on the way. Nice detail work.

Frank, i have a couple of the aero detail books and they are brilliant. As for 262's, ive pulled an old 2 seater (Red 12) from the shelf, as i was never truly happy with it, and have decided it needs a repaint. My plan is to paint it as a 2 seater trainer. This scheme caught my eye,

whatcha reckon,

...Guy

Sometimes, it does that. Failing to post a copy. Mmmm, strange. Ill try again,

The kit is the Dragon, 1/48 Nachtjager, that im going to do a re-paint and pose it as an inflight, with gear up. I should be able to scrounge the decals up i need.

...Guy

Guy- I have it impossible to link directly to the profiles on Wings Palette.  Only way to do it is to save them on your 'puter, then upload them here.

Is your 262 an "A" or a "B"?

Hey Frank, thats cool what you pulled up.

Last year when I built a Monogram 262, it was that very same one.

Sorry Frank, the Beastie is a 262B-1A. And heres a piccy of the bird,

...Guy

Thanks Andrew, I like this bird!  Do you have any photos of the one you built?  I would love to see them.

Guy- You got it buddy!  List updated.  And, this time I will be building with you.  Working on my kit this evening!

Due to shift times, im not getting an awfull lot of time at the bench. Maybe an hour if im lucky. Hopefully that will change by next week. Anyhoo, ive started stripping the bird. Heres what she looked like once, Once i might add,

I was never happy with her. Also i dropped it recently doing something or another, so its a prime candidate for the repaint in training coulours. Im stripping the paint with AB cleaner,

I know in the States you have all sorts of plasic paint stripping products. If you know of some in the UK. Id love to know LOL.

...Guy

Guy-Cannot wait to see the new paint job.

Well I finally had some bench time.... Finished plumbing the nose well, main wells, & finished hooking up all the lines to the Mk 108s. I attached the wings and the engine nacelles. a lil bit of cleanup to do. Question does anyone have a spare 1/48 Tamiya gun bay cover??? I tried to modify mine so that i had one door closed and the other open and can we say FAILURE!! I will try to post pics sometime tomorrow.

2nd Question... does anyone have any reviews of hasegawa's 1/32 262 offering. I saw it tonight at the LHS while trying to locate Aero Detail 9.

Keep up the Good work Gents!!

Kanichiwa-Jason

Alrighty, here is what I built last year

Many errors I know, but this was probably my best one at the time.

I built this normal Monogram kit using Aeromasters decals.

Evil Herc wrote:

2nd Question... does anyone have any reviews of hasegawa's 1/32 262 offering. I saw it tonight at the LHS while trying to locate Aero Detail 9.

Jason, it's a 70's vintage kit.  Raised panel lines and rivets.  Shape is good and it can be built up nicely with some work.  The only real weak point I see is the wheels, but Signifier makes a nice set of resin wheels for the 262.

Aaron did a nice build up of one for this GB, maybe he'll chime in. 

luftwaffle wrote:

...Signifier makes a nice set of resin wheels for the 262.

Funny you mention those Mike!  The set of those I bought on Ebay arrived not 5 minutes ago in the mail.  Beautiful looking castings!