1/72nd MPM Me 262.

[bish]

Started this build a couple of weeks ago. It has been slow going, I really need to pick up the pace, thought it was about time I shared my efforts.

This is a variant I have wanted for a few years, but until Jan I didn't even know it had ever existed in this scale. Then I stumbeled across one on E-bay, and of course I had to have it.

Me 262A-2a/U2



Though it comes with a nice PE set, I am adding an Aires resin cockpit designed for the Revell kit.







The fuselage went together quiet well, with not much sanding needed.



The cockpit fitted in really well, I just hope it fits as well in the Revell kit. Then when it came to fit the wings the problems started. When it comes to the middle bottom section which houses the wheel wells the instructions tell you to remove a certain amount from front and back. I did this, but it still didn't fit and needed more off the front. This of course left a large gap at the rear. Also, the gap between the wings was to small for the fuselage to fit into, so this meant sanding back the wings.







Still got a bit more sanding to do, but its almost reading for painting. So hopefully another update will follow shortly.

[deafpanzer]

Very interesting kit! Never knew about this at all... please count me in!

[wbill76]

This ought to be a fun one bish! I'd hate to be the crewman in the nose though...talk about cramped quarters!

[bish]

Well that made two of us Andy. Just after I bought this, I also came across an MPM A-1a/U3 recon variant, so snapped that up as well.

Bill, the bomb aimer had to lay prone during any mission, so depending on how good the pilot was, it might have been rather comfy.

I forgot to mention, I am doing this as an operational aircraft with one of the late war SG units. I am going to do it in a wrap around scheme for low level attacks, a good chance to do something a bit different.

[Leon]

Count me in Bish.I like this.

[venom1]

Off to a nice start Bish, and a very interesting version to boot!

Cheers,

Sam

[fightnjoe]

bish looks like a great start.




joe

[dupes]

Can't say I've ever seen that variant? Should be interesting!

[bish]

Thanks guys. No, it not a variant you see built often, along with the C's and the recon version. Its been a struggle with this, but will have another update soon.

[Deleted]

Hi Bish,
I'm a new member here, but I landed here because I was searching for ANY info on this ME262 kit from MPM. I've got the same issues you had with the center wing section but I haven't started cutting yet. I see why you got off to a slow start with it. I'm a middle aged renaissance modeller, so I'm reaching back a lotta years to figure out how to modify the given pieces. The instruction sheet is pretty "sparse" in terms of directions-- I didn't catch that little hack-saw icon indicating the areas to cut.

Question-- probably dumb but here goes, what are those two little pieces of etched copper in the separate plastic bag?
are they overlays or paint masks? or something else? And what about the second, slightly smaller seat? Was that a left over component for a recon version of the ME262. The cockpit deck provided is considerably longer than the Revell cockpit you show in the pictures.

Thanks for any help.
-Jerry

[bish]

Jerry, I am glad I am not the only one. When you say two little pieces of etched copper, are you talking about the two PE frets. They are marked F on the instructions. If not, you may have something I don't. As for the cockpit, I think some of this kit is from an MPM Me 262B kit, which was a two seat trainer/Nightfigther. I think this is why part 15 has to be trimmed to fit this kit. I think the 3 main sprues are from this 2 seater kit. If you look at the sprue layout in the instructions, on the top left of the first sprue there are two items crossed out, these are the aerial's for the nightfighter.

As for part 15, as I am sure you have seen, it says to cut 3mm from the front and 10mm from the back. I would say its closer to an equal amount to be trimmed. I would suggest starting at the front with about 5mm and then keep taking it back until the leading edge of the wing matches the leading edge of the wing root.

I should have put in an update a few days ago, so I will do one larger update today as I know have paint on this.

[bish]

Time for a bit of catching up, I think I missed one update, so apologise for that.

I finally managed to get the wings to a level I was happy with. Its really the only down side to this kit, everything else fitted very nicely.







For the bomb aimers compartment, I added so bits from the spares box, a mix of plastic and PE including a 'seat belt'. There's no photo's of this area so its all guess work.





Then it was time for some paint. I started with two shades of green wrapped around the aircraft.







I then added some brown violet where the two greens meet and some mottling.





I wasn't to sure at first, but I think this scheme is growing on me. I have started the decals, but I wasn't happy with the wing crosses I had to hand. I want black out line crosses in all locations. I managed to find an old microscale set so have oreded them, but they are coming across the pond, so might take a week or so.

All comments welcome.

[Leon]

Nice job on the paint scheme Bish.Looking really good.

[wing_nut]

Looks good Bish. I know this variant since it epitomizes using the air frame for exactly what it WASN'T meant to do.

[wbill76]

Nice progress in the paint department there Bish. Have to agree with Marc, can only shake my head at the 'what were they thinking!' application with this variant.

[bish]

Thanks guys. It does make you wonder. Given some of the designs the Germans were comng up with, I can't see this entering service myself. According to the Squadron In Action book, when loaded with bombs this variant was less stable than a standard A-2a. I am guessing due to the altered nose.

All the decals are on that I can get on. Just got to wait for the crosses to turn up. In the meantime I can get the undercarriage done and work on the base and ground equipment.











Jerry, in case you haven't noticed yet, a quick word on the decals. They are all on one piece of decal film. So I trimmed mine very close to the decal to avoid lots of excess. But the decals do go down really nicely.

[deafpanzer]

Looking good Bish!!! Nice job on the camo...

[bbd468]

Hiya Bish! I have never seen this type ME-262 before, very cool! Nice camo job my man, on a very interesting aircraft.

[destrozas.]

Interesting plane ..... took a while thinking that I have to buy because this plane has loquito me to do a different project.
seguire attentive to your work

[TRM]

Nice work on the ME Bish! I like the camo layout! Just about at the finish too...keep it coming!!

[bish]

Thanks guys. Still waiting on the decals, I am hoping they will be here this week. So just been getting some of the little bits done.

destrozas, if you want one of these, I think you will have to keep an eye on e-bay. As far as I know they have been OOP for some time. I was just lucky to have stumbled across this one.

[bish]

I know its been a while, but I finally got the decals last week. The Royal mail seems to have been going through a bad spell this month. So those have been added, the flat coat out on and the wheels fitted.













I now have the weathering done and its fitted to the base. So just got the figures to do and this will be done.

[fightnjoe]

dang that looks good to me. you have more control in your painting abilities than i do.



joe

[wbill76]

Almost home with this one Bish, sounds like your mail service is a lot like our mail service!

[Leon]

Bish,that is some awesome camo work mate.Looking forward to seeing this one completed.

[bish]

Thanks all. Bill, our mail is normally good. But early June must have been a bad patch. At the same time I ordered the decals for this, I bought two kits off e-bay from Poland. They arrived at Heathrow and then sat there for two weeks before being sent back, for reasons unknown. When they got sent a second time, they arrived in a few days. And last weekend I ordered some decals from Canada for my next build and they got here before the end of the week. So hopefully its back to the usual service.

Almost there with this, just trying to find some figures that suit the scene from my stash.

[bish]

Glad to report, I finally have this done. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't to sure about the scheme at first. But now with the markings on and the weathering, I rather like it. I finished it off with pro modeller wash and AK streaking grime. these have now become the norm for me when weathering aircraft and I like the finish it gives.

So here's the final pics.













Thanks for looking and for being so patient in sticking with me on this one. All comments welcome as always.

[Leon]

That looks outstanding Bish .Enjoyed following this.

[wbill76]

Turned out just right Bish! Looks perfectly at home on the base and showing the crew positions with the canopies open is a nice touch IMHO.

[fightnjoe]

i am always impressed by your work in this scale. so much detail. outstanding work.





joe