by Andreas Beck

Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a

images by Detlef Hoffmann

Tamiya's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a is available online from Squadron.com

There is little that needs to be added to the Tamiya's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a.

Even so, I look forward to the day when we have moulding technology that permits the modeler to choose how far the main gear oleos are extended! I cut the kit oleos by 2/3.

Another problem is that the tailplane is so thin that the rudder comes out a bit too wide. My next Tamiya Me 262 will have a thickened tailplane at it's rear.

Also, wouldn´t it be nice if one of the photo-etched aftermarket companies brought out a set of some (maybe 8 – 10) FuG 16 Morane masts. Many modelers would be thankful and would replace kit parts, even on already finished models. The mast in this kit could nearly be a auxiliary tank.

Cutting Edge`s slats and four canon nose were used. Due to transport problems to Detlef as the photographer the antenna wire is not yet fixed. Call me an idiot, but I will try to combine one of the sub-variants from Dragon with the Tamiya kit.

I wanted to depict one of the early "rats", as Pierre Closterman called the 262s, as colorless as possible. My next alternative was a captured Soviet jet, but Det would have refused to photograph it,  so the decision fell on one of Kommando Schenk's planes.

The model was primed with Humbrol 147. The self mixed camouflage colors are water based Schmincke artist airbrush colors which can be extremely thinned down – and there is no stink at your work place.

A smooth coat of Aeromaster´s gloss acryl was applied before decaling. The decals are a mix of Tamiya and Eagle Strike. The Werknummer is estimated (There was a lot in the documentation and I felt so free).

The Micro Set and Sol combination worked well with both decal types. A smooth finish with black Schmincke ( at a 1:30 ratio) was applied before finishing the job with Aeromaster acrylic flat.

Tamiya's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 262 was a fun kit to build, but I will probably use the old Monogram for something different later. I can strongly recommend using the Cutting Edge slats and flaps set too. It is not a difficult job to add them to the model.
 

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Text and Model Copyright © 2002 by Andreas Beck
Images Copyright © 2002 by Detlef Hoffmann
Page Created 16 October 2002
Last updated 04 June 2007

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