Messerschmitt Me262 variants in 1/144th

[Bigkev]

Thanks Chris,
My next one is to be the Lorin Ramjet version. It has progressed reasonably well so far, and is now ready for the upper camouflage to be applied. This one will be a tail sitter, so I will have to use a small wire prop to keep the nose down. Also I have used the Trumpeter kit as this was the only one available at the time.
Have put some pictures of the Retrowings conversion and my model so far.

[chriswil42]

Is this a "what if" Kevin or did it fly?

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
No, it didn't actually fly, but was a paper project considered as a quick high altitude fighter.
Perhaps if the war had gone into 1946 it might have made it into service.

[chriswil42]

Thanks for the info Kevin.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,

An Aaaargh moment.....!

Just an update on progress with this one.
Thanks go to Howard, who kindly gave me 3 pots of Xtracrylics for me to use at the last Playday. He no longer wanted them and knew I was building some Luftwaffe aircraft.

I started out by spraying some Xtracrylics RLM74 which is the first time I used this paint. It sprayed beautifully but appeared a little too dark to my eye, but I thought the next colour applied might reveal its relationship on the RLM 74/75/76 and be okay. So I masked out the camouflage on the wings and tailplane and sprayed some Xtracrylics RLM75 Graugrun. It sprayed okay but again too dark, and on drying is more like Schwarzgrun (Black Green). This is not the effect at all I wanted, so it has been rubbed down and is currently going to be painted in Tamiya acrylics probably mixed to suit.

Perhaps the paint needed to be 'lightened' for working in this scale?

One step forward and Two back at moment........
Some pictures of the offending paint job after some equally colourful language.
Thanks for looking.
Kevin

[chriswil42]

Looking good Kevin after the repaint job.

[kiwichappers]

It's hard to judge from photos on the screen but the colours do look a tad dark. Good to know you get on with Xtracrylics, I've didn't get on with them and gave up struggling with Xtracrylics some time ago.

[Bigkev]

Hi Francis,
Yep, way too dark for this scale, but I was impressed how they sprayed with just a little water to thin.
Model is currently being re-sprayed to something lighter.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
Well, I have managed to re-spray the upper surfaces to a much better colour. I have used Tamiya paints, with a little mixing of Ocean Grey, and Medium Sea Grey to get the colours that look okay to me. The mottling will be next, and some feathering of the demarcation lines on fuselage and nacelles.
Whilst at it I sprayed the two Ramjets, and have placed them in situ for a trial run as can be seen in the pictures.
Thanks for looking.
Kevin 

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
Mottling now done. Used the same base colours as the camouflage, and applied small spots of colour along the fuselage demarcation lines, and along the sides. A relatively low pressure and well thinned paint with some retarder worked, though I did have to redo a couple of areas where I went too heavy or outside where I wanted paint to go.
Whilst in the mood applied a grey mottle to the Ramjets. This is a 'what-if' project so I can use my own interpretation of what the scheme would have been like.
Thanks for looking.
Kevin 

[chriswil42]

Looking good Kevin.

[cph64]

The joys of 144, yes you will have to lighten paint at that scale, allegedly we should at 72 as well but hey ho! Nice to see different Schwalbe.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
A little more progress. Canopy now has had the masking removed, the paintwork has been given two coats of Kleer and the decals applied.
I noticed that the Ramjets were slightly inclined upwards at the rear, so the fairings have been sanded down to adjust the fit. Any gaps will be filled with Kristal Klear and overpainted when dry in the appropriate colour.
Thanks for looking.

[chriswil42]

Very nice Kevin.

[Bigkev]

Declaring this one now finished. Looks very ungainly, I wonder if it would have ever worked.
Managed to get a piece of wire in place between the undercarriage doors to prevent it being a tail sitter.
Thanks for looking.
Kevin