1/32 Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a - Trumpeter - FINISHED!

[doogsatx]

Started this one up last week or so...been waiting to post until I've had some solid progress to show.

I've got a special scheme planned for this one that should be very striking, but I'm playing it close until I actually get into the fun part (paint).

I started out last weekend getting a bunch of smaller assemblies knocked out (stabs, rudder, engine internals and so on). The test fit is solid...



Next up, the cockpit. Primed with Mr. Surfacer 1500, then sprayed with Tamiya German Gray cut with a bit of Neutral Gray.



I decided to go with my hand-painted effort on the IP face, versus Eduard's.



Quick look at how the cockpit is shaping up:

[dupes]

Another 1/32 jet? How many have you got going on at once?

Pit looks sweet!

[doogsatx]

Just two! And it's taking all of my willpower to keep it that way!

[bbd468]

DAIUM Doogs!!! That looks awesome fella! Bloody well done.

[doogsatx]

Calling the cockpit done. Well, except for the gunsight which won't go in until much later.

One happy discovery today was the amazingness of Vallejo Game Color Washes - used them on the HGW belts and was blown away how well they did. I've usually dismissed acrylic washes in the past...time to reasses!



On to the rest of the cockpit. It got a treatment with AK Dust Effects...the aircraft I'm doing was abandoned in a field so I wanted to go a bit dirty in the cockpit.

[Tobi]

Marvelous job on the cockpit. I also got this kit (with transparent parts). Watching with interest!

Cheers,
Tobi

[Leon]

Awesome work on the pit Doogs,Very nicely done.

[dupes]

Belts - who is HGW? Drawing a total blank.

Another sweet build!

[panzerjager]

Marvelous job, Doog! It looks great!

dupes, visit HGW website to see their products: www.hgwmodels.cz/?lang=en

Darío

[Rick]

Doogs, shaping up to be another masterpiece. Cockpit is awesome. how do you get the color on the various switches and knobs so precise? drybrush or masking or an incredibly steady hand with the brush? Will be keeping and eye on this one for sure. Looks great!
Rick

[deafpanzer]

The seat belts look SUPERB!

[Mence]

Very nice, like it a lot.

[doogsatx]

Dec 5, 2013 12:26:56 GMT -5 Rick said:

how do you get the color on the various switches and knobs so precise? drybrush or masking or an incredibly steady hand with the brush?

Yes!

Drybrushing played a role, but there was a fair amount of handpainting done, too. I use toothpicks and an old .35mm airbrush needle to apply the paint. I also try to use paint that isn't prone to "spread". Acrylic ink works great for gauge surrounds since it stays basically where you put it. Vallejo Model Color for the whites/reds/blues/yellows. MM Chrome Silver for switches. MM Chrome Silver topped with Tamiya Clear Red for any lights.

[Rick]

Thanks Doogs. Great information and appreciate you sharing. The techniques really make the results stand out.
Rick

[doogsatx]

Got the fuselage halves together and the lower wing mounted up tonight.

My latest test-fit - including gear struts - has happily revealed that this 262 shows no tail-sitter tendencies whatsoever.

[doogsatx]

Feels like it's been forever since I've had an update...but I got the upper wings, engine pods and gun covers placed last night. Another night or two and I should be moving into the special hell that is filling sanding and rescribing.





The fit is frustrating in a few areas, notably the gun covers and certain areas of the engine pods. I'll definitely need to go back and rescribe some lost detail.

As for the final sit, here she is standing on just the nose and starboard maingear struts:



Vs. the real thing:

[doogsatx]

Been awhile since I've had much to share. In part, I've been waiting for some paint to arrive. And I've been procrastinating on cleanup. But the 262 is really getting close now. Basically, I have another night of cleanup (and weld seam adding) to go. And I have to paint and install the Revi 16 gunsight before I can install the windscreen. Hopefully paint will be flying by the end of the week.

Until then...got construction done on the Revi last night.



And I finally got an appropriate-size drill bit to drill out the Barracuda wheels...here's the look with the collapsed maingear:



More to come!

[deafpanzer]

Like how it is leaning... nice process you have made.

[sturmbird]

I've seen exactly one 262 in my lifetime, and it just looked like a shark sitting under the wing of a B17. Under the opposite side was an FW190D9, and it looked like a mod. T Ford compared to the 262
gary

[venom1]

Like where this is going Doogs!

Looking forward to the paint sessions....

Cheers,

Sam

[doogsatx]

FINALLY primed the 262 last night.





Several areas need touch-ups. UGH. This kit is pretty good, but the fit of small bits in highly visible areas leaves a LOT to be desired.

[wing_nut]

So glad I found this thread. May not have said it before but I am a fan of your work. Can't wait to see the camo on the bad boy...so don't make me wait to long... Please!

[dupes]

I'm with Wingy...maybe the paint will cover up those putty spots? Heh. Kind of surprised the fit is so spotty on a newer kit from the big T.

[doogsatx]

So last night I pushed the "woe is me" attitude aside, did some aggressive cleanup of the wanting seams, but intentionally left most of them slightly imperfect in a nod to the nature of the real aircraft. Then sprayed the thing with Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black.











Of course, I ran out of X-1 before I could finish up things like the gear doors, so it's out to the LHS over lunch today to restock. Thankfully, we're in for a week of sunny, mild weather, so there should be no delays in getting the surface polished and then NMF'ed.

[doogsatx]

More work last night...moved on to micromesh and the Dremel polishing wheel.

[deafpanzer]

Looking great! What kind of polishing wheel did you use? I have Dremel along with many stuff that came with it.

Still following this... keep it coming.

[dupes]

Innnnnteresting. Never attempted to do an NMF this way. Attention being paid fully!

[bbd468]

Wow Doogs, ya got your hand in a little bit of every thing these day! Thats a killer build right there....nice!!!

[doogsatx]

Finally started spraying NMF last night - Gunze Super Metallic Super Fine Silver. Really like this stuff, and thinned down with some Mr. Leveling Thinner it sprays beautifully.

[wing_nut]

Yo my brotha... gimme some skin! Natural metal skin that is. Can't argue with those results.