Messerschmitt Me262 variants in 1/144th

[cph64]

Great mottling. I want to try overspraying but how do you stop the light coat from running?

[Bigkev]

Thanks Chris. I found it best to spray at a low PSI, about 5PSI and quite a thin mix, probably 25% paint to 75% thinners. Then get close to the model and gently mist it on, using quite a few passes until your satisfied.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
Little update.
Model now given a splinter type camouflage on the wing and tail upper surfaces, and black undersides and engine nacelles.
I noticed after removing the masking that the port wing splinter camouflage didn't quite go far enough to the fuselage side, so I'll have to spray a thin bit of clear decal sheet in the appropriate colour and apply to cover the offending gap.
All the other fiddly bits have been removed from sprues and due to be painted after I've done the decal sheet.
Thanks for looking:-

[cph64]

Can't you 'hide' the gap with a few dabs of aluminium to represent scuffs and wear?

[chriswil42]

Very nice work Kevin.

[Bigkev]

Thanks chaps for your comments much appreciated.
As to adding some chipping to cover my faux par, I hadn't actually thought of that Chris.
Anyway, I have covered the gap with a strip of decal strip matched to the paint. Also have now got the decals on. The Number '12' came from a Trumpeter Me262 kit, the numeral '1' was created by cutting a letter 'L' into a couple of pieces and joining the segments.
At the moment its glossy, but once decals are set in place, and checked for any silvering (and attended to), some weathering will be done with washes and oil filters.

[zak]

Nice work on creating the numbers.

[Thomo]

Nice. Another one that Neil cannot see.

[Bigkev]

Thanks guys.
Well now have started on the panel line washing. I used Flory wash, Dark Dirt, and Grey. I might redo the undersides which had the grey wash, as it is a little too stark, so I will mix both together and make the grey wash quite dark then re-apply.
some pics of where it is so far after having the first washes applied then the excess rubbed off.
Thanks for looking.

[cph64]

Back tracking to the sprue photos there doesn't appear to be a definite 'tub' so it appears it's up to you whether  you have it as a Trainer or a B without the aerials. The latter option saves a lot of heartache!!!

[Bigkev]

Yes, you are right in some respects Chris. This 2 in 1 moulding gives you the option of making a single seat and twin seat Me262 in Czech markings. However I wanted to do a Luftwaffe night fighter version. I intend to scratch some aerials for the front, and have already drilled locating holes in the nose.
I could have done a B trainer without aerials, in Luftwaffe markings and the Mark 1 models boxing of the 2 seat Me262 has two boxings with or without etch aerial arrays.
My aerials will be from thin plastic card and fine stretched sprue.
Tonight I have got the model on its undercarriage and will post some pictures tomorrow.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
Some pictures from yesterday's work on the undercarriage. I had already painted the landing gear and the Tires. The wheel hubs needed painting black so I cut some circles us my Dispaie circle cutter. Checking the diameter was correct, I then masked off the tire section then simply painted the hub.
Model now sits on its undercarriage nicely, just the aerials and other small sticky out bits to add before final satin varnish and removal of canopy masks.

[Bigkev]

More work on the aerial array.
My first attempt was to make this entirely out of plastic card and thin stretch sprue. Got as far as making two more or less good enough, but trying to remove the whole thing from the masking tape holding on some acrylic sheet caused it to bend and twist.
So after a little thought, Plan B.
This time I did a prototype using 0.2mm wire bent to shape, then a thin bit of plastic card superglued to the rear of the wire. This was the sanded to a thin section. Then taking two thin stretched sprue length glued them in place on the protruding wire and when dry cut to shape, top, centre and bottom. This gave two equally sets of wires, and much stronger. This one is slightly too large for the kit, but it gave me the way forward.
Also have added the D/F loop and aerial to rear of cockpit, pitot tube to wing.
Some pics of the not so successful aerial array, and the revised option are shown for your info.

[zak]

Great modelling and delicate work to boot.

[Bigkev]

Great modelling and delicate work to boot.

Thankyou Dave, not as tiny as what you work with though!