hasegawa 1/32 me 262a calling this one done

[venom1]

Don't be so hard on yourself Joe! I think you have done a great job with a mediocre kit. German paint schemes are some of the most complex (and therefore difficult to master) paint schemes out there. Mottling is especially difficult to get looking just right! Unfortunately it's one of those things you need to keep practicing, but if you stick with it you will definitely get there.

Believe me Joe, many guys here will agree with me when I say that I think you have both the skill and ability to do it, it just takes a little perseverance!

In regards to the mottling, in most cases it was done with a spray gun on the real aircraft, and is therefore pretty tricky to do other than with an airbrush. I have seen it done effectively with a brush or similar, but it takes a bit of work and practice to get looking right. Can I make a suggestion? One technique which might work for you that is quite simple yet effective (though I have not tried it myself) is punching a mottle pattern in a piece of paper and then suspending the paper above the surface of the model with something like BluTac or similar. The further from the surface, the more feathered the edge. Then spray the appropriate colors through the appropriate holes and you should have a pretty effective mottle pattern! From what I have heard this can be done using an airbrush or a rattle can, though I imagine the rattle can would be harder to control. Hope that was not too confusing? Anyway, just a thought!

In any case mate, don't get too discouraged! We all have our own versions of your 262 that just seem to fight us all the way. Don't let the $&@@& get you down!!

You are among friends mate, and your friends think you are doing a great job!

Cheers,

Sam

[bish]

Ye Joe, that doesn't look so bad. As Sam said, German camo schemes are not the easiest to do. I've been building German aircraft for over 20 years and only recently tried a mottel scheme.

[fightnjoe]

thank you for the encouragement and advice. i really do appreciate it.

the paint scheme was one of the reasons i said this kit was intimidating to me. there were others but the paint was one of them. i knew it would be a difficult scheme to pull off. my frustration i believe is in large part because of the landing gear collapse. it seemed i would glue it, let it dry, move to the mottle, as i was getting started with the mottle the gear would collapse again. very frustrating.

my plan remains. i am moving on to decals. the paint remains as is. this will never become a show stopper, it was for me and to further my abilities. in that respect it has worked somewhat.



joe

[Leon]

Joe i agree with the others,don't be to hard on your self.It doesn't look that bad.

[wbill76]

Stick with it joe! Don't let it get you down...I've had builds that were frustrating in one department like your landing gear issue and the fact that you've stuck with it to this point earns you solid marks as well. You've got the right plan, finish it up and gain the experience from it for your next build.

[bbd468]

Hey Joe, I think the fellas all got it right and i also say just have fun with it, try a new wash technique, or fading, or just anything that will help you gain more knowledge and if you did learn something new then its all worth the effort!

Gary

[fightnjoe]

thank you all for the encouragement.

no i will not put this one on the shelf again. i will finish it.

i feel a little calmer tonight. i dont feel the kit should be thrown to the wall. i dont believe i should melt it down and bury it in the back yard.

i am much calmer tonight.


joe

[bbd468]

Feb 18, 2013 22:03:52 GMT -5 fightnjoe said:

thank you all for the encouragement.

no i will not put this one on the shelf again. i will finish it.

i feel a little calmer tonight. i dont feel the kit should be thrown to the wall. i dont believe i should melt it down and bury it in the back yard.

i am much calmer tonight.


joe

Right on Joe...keep pluggin away buddy!

Gary

[TRM]

Listen to the guys Joe! Forge on! I am intimidated by camo schemes myself! Something about it. Just need to, well, do it. Each time it get easier and easier. Andy is 100 % correct....filter, light weathering and a wash....blends right in! Better than my AC's...Still have two FW190's and and Avenger staring at me!!! not even to where you are!! Keep plugging away!! It will happen!!

[fightnjoe]

thanks again guys. i am forging ahead. and what do you know, the decals suck as well. thick and difficult to manage. go figure.

ahh well. forward is the battle.



joe

[venom1]

Dude, the modeling gods are not smiling on you at the moment!! My advice is to punch them all squarely in the nose and keep building!

In regards to the gear, I always leave my landing gear off until final assembly, as most aircraft kits have fairly flimsy gear, especially modern jets like the F-15. I will usually finish my gear including all painting and weathering and then put it aside until all the painting, decalling and weathering on the airframe is complete. This also applies to things such as canopies (the "movable" component at least), pitot tubes, drop tanks, missiles, and any other breaky-offy-and-fly-across-the-roomy type parts! I know many of us build in different ways, but I find adhering to this philosophy saves many a headache and tear in the long run!!

For the decals, make sure you have the surface nice and glossy and use a good quality setting solution. Hopefully that should help somewhat in dealing with the inferior decals. Sometimes even that doesn't help, some decals are just really crappy (believe me I know!!). If you haven't already done this though, it may help a little.....

Keep at it Joe, nearly there!!

Cheers,

Sam

[bullardino]

Joe, you chose one of the hardest camos ever... And it doesn't look that bad, if you will be able to tone them down a little with filters and washes

[Mence]

Hey Joe, I have seen far, far worse than this and most of it my own work!

Stick with it, I think it's gonna come out good...

[modelfreak72]

Good looking camo Joe! As Sam said, Molting on German aircraft is tough to do and takes lots of practice. I here for you with the landing, I've had that happen more times than I can count, still can't find the rear to one my Corsairs. Bring on the decals and weathering!

[fightnjoe]

again many many thanks for all the encouragement.

sam normally i do the same. landing gear and fiddly bits are last to attach. this time i needed a way to keep the plane off the tarmac for painting. i decided to work them so i wouldnt mess them up later. it didnt work. i did use future (two coats) to get a nice glossy finish for the decals. tonight i am going to try to start the process with the decal solvent. hopefully i will have better luck or just get it done. all in all the modeling gods seem to be punishing me. not sure what the heck i did to deserve it but apparently it was very very bad.

luigi to know that this cammo is one of the toughest actually makes me feel a little better. however i should have done a better job on it. not sure what i am going to do for filters and/or weathering.

prof with all of you pulling for me this to will pass. not sure how it will come out but it will pass.

mf im with you. decals are on, soon to be attacked with solvent. then on to weathering of some kind.



joe

[bullardino]

Try browsing around, Joe, and look for comments on luf mottling camo. You will seldom find someone happy to do it...

[venom1]

No problem Joe, figured you knew what you were doing! Just one of those #$^%#^ builds from Hell huh?....

Remember; modelling gods, nose, punch!

Keep at it mate, we're all cheering you on from the sidelines.....

Cheers,

Sam

[fightnjoe]

thanks again for the encouragement.

the decals have been attacked with decal solvent. pictures will be coming along in the next day or so. then i can look to see about weathering and such.



joe

[Deleted]

Glad to hear you're still going at this one, treat it as a learning tool and have fun with it 

[fightnjoe]

actually steve looking at this as a get it the heck out of the stash, try to learn but most important get it the heck out of the stash.



joe

[fightnjoe]

dicky many thanks for that.


joe

[fightnjoe]

now for a small update.

the decals are on. and after multiple sessions with decal solvent i am moving on. the pictures are prior to a fresh coating of future.






after this was dry i used a piece of sandpaper to bring out the rivit details. it worked decently. after that i sprayed testors dull coat. i removed the masking for the clear parts and discovered that the interior of the center piece of the canopy fogged and shows the glue ran just a bit. i sanded it down a bit and then hit it heavily with future to try to minimize the damage. i notice that the point where the glue hit the clear plastic it took a yellowish tone. this thing seems to be fighting me all the way through.

as far as i am concerned all that is left is a couple of minor parts. then i am thinking i am going to call it finished.


next update will be the final installment.


comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.


joe

[bbd468]

Hiya Joe, im very happy ya stuck with it buddy. We learn from our mistakes and sometimes we learn even more when we stick with a project and see it thru. Well done Joe, the decals look sweet!

Gary

[deafpanzer]

Ditto! Decals look great! Can I take it out for a ride now?

[venom1]

Don't know what all the fuss has been about Joe, I reckon you've turned out a pretty decent 262!

Looks pretty good to me and it ain't finished yet!!

Cheers,

Sam

[fightnjoe]

many thanks.

appreciate all the kind words and the encouragement.



joe

[Leon]

Joe fine job on the 262

[Mence]

Well Joe, from where I'm sitting (7am and for a change sober) I don't know why you were downhearted.

I think it's coming along really well and you should be particularly pleased for dragging a pretty poor kit up to standard.

Well done for sticking with it mate.

[fightnjoe]

leon, prof many thanks for the kind words and encouragement.

prof one of my worst traits is that when i build i expect way too much from myself. i just never seem to reach the level i expect of myself. horrible trait. i am getting to the point i will be just happy to be finished with this one.



joe

[Mence]

You're not alone in that respect Joe, I am my harshest critic, something I'm trying to stop!