1/72 Scale Me262 Model construction

JudgeDredd · August 15, 2015, 03:59:41 PM

Asid suggested I post some images here of my modelling (brace yourselves!)

A wee bit of background...skip if you get bored...

I hadn't done any scale modelling since about '81/'82. I used to do it with my dad and twin brother - but then joined the army and moved onto girls and booze. So now I'm married (though I still like the booze) one of my new past times is scale modelling.

Anyway - I started a couple of years ago and the going is slow. I don't make many. I made a Challenger II which Asid had posted over here. I'm very new to airbrushing but as I've taken the hobby under my wing again, I decided to invest in the kit I needed. I'm still very much in the learning process.

Currently I'm working on a Me262. The model was bought for me by my daughter as a "nostalgic" present because she knew it was old and that I made models with my dad. Turns out she didn't know how old it was. The box was the 1996 version of the model but the actual model was moulded in 1960 and had never been updated.

So thank you Megan

Well, I've been wanting to try and do it justice...but it was difficult because it was a rather ill fitting model. Moulding wasn't as good back in the day.

There are other images and posts at Grogheads, SimHQ and ISM showing earlier progress...but this is it nearly finished.

Getting there. Wheels are on, bombs are on, canopy has been masked and painted and various places touched up.

I'm a bit impressed with the masking. I did not use an Eduard mask...I just did it myself with Tamiya modelling tape.

Next up is a clear coat, decals, another clear coat and weathering

It needs touching up in places - I think I should've given the canopy a second coat.

JudgeDredd · August 15, 2015, 04:05:06 PM

I have a sneaking suspicion this should have been posted in another General Discussion thread...please move if it's in the wrong place...he just suggested "General Discussion" and I chose Steel Beasts because I knew he played it and was therefore active here.

Sorry

Asid · August 15, 2015, 04:59:47 PM

Hi JD

It's in the correct section now.

This is great. Thanks for posting this here.

The fit between the parts may have gotten worse due to age. You are doing a great job.

Here is the Chally you built: http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php/topic,335.msg1376.html#msg1376

Please keep us updated with your modelling.

Thanks

JudgeDredd · August 15, 2015, 05:06:38 PM

Cheers buddy.

Frankie · August 15, 2015, 06:25:22 PM

Hi Judge 'I am the law' Dredd
Nice Me262. Brings back so many memories of my childhood with Tamiya and Airfix. My dad introduced the pastime to me. My fondest memories as a 1/50(!) scale model of a P-51D Mustang. As for the cockpits, I almost always ended up getting glue on the plexiglass (plastic!?) canopy which in invariably ghost (mist) up and spoil the canopy. Ah yes, we actually also built two tanks: a Tiger tank and a Panther. Both had gears and a wired controller. I still remember the smell of the Singer oil on the gearbox of those tanks!

Asid · August 15, 2015, 06:45:51 PM

Quote from: Frankie on August 15, 2015, 06:25:22 PM
I still remember the smell of the Singer oil on the gearbox of those tanks!

I'm from a musical family.......Even the sewing machines a Singer......

JudgeDredd · August 15, 2015, 08:42:59 PM

Here she is sitting on "her own three wheels"...

As it's not a "tail dragger" I was at a loss (as I was as a kid) as to how to get it to sit up....I have used a shed load of "Blu-Tack" in the nose wheel section. Had I been prepared, I could've use ball bearings of some sort...but you live and learn.

Attila · August 15, 2015, 08:45:33 PM

Wow very nice

Asid · August 15, 2015, 08:48:32 PM

You've done a great job there JD.

Thanks again for sharing this.

When I used to assemble models. I would glue my fingers to everything and get glue everywhere

,

JudgeDredd · August 15, 2015, 08:50:57 PM

Thanks Attila

I have to say though I was very, VERY apprehensive about building this. My daughter had bought me it for a very specific reason (it was old, I had built models of this era with my dad and he was dead)

So the trepidation of building it was immense. That's why it's taken me 9 months to get this far.

Having said that - as a beginner with airbrushing and filling and sanding and "really bad fitting moulds", I think I did ok. I definitely want to improve, but given the standard of the model and the standard of the modeller, I'd say it's a B.

I've learnt loads of things (and I can only hope I remember them) and I've discovered lots of things. Hopefully, things can only get better.

Frankie · August 16, 2015, 01:29:06 PM

The best part and the worst part me was putting on the decals. Best because it was like the crowning of a great creation. Everything leads up to the decals. The worst because I couldn't get the decals to align properly or worst still the decals folded up and sometimes even with a pair of tweezers, I could screw up the decals.

JudgeDredd · August 16, 2015, 07:13:56 PM

She's done. Klear applied, decals on and more Klear applied.

I was going to weather - but I'm not sure...I like her.

I was really nervous about doing this model. My daughter had bought it as a special gift for me...it wasn't a lot of money, but she understood the significance of the model and it's age and that was priceless to me. So I was really nervous - first time using an airbrush, first time not using enamels, first time using certain paints (Tamiya and Vallejo Model Air), first time filling and first time sanding.

It's not perfect - but I'm really rather pleased with the result. I hope she is.