Damian! I've always been fond of this odd version of the 262, and now you're building TWO of them ! We're in for a treat!

Russell! I use this razor saw, or rather I use the blade only with a few layers of tape wrapped around the coarse edge as a handle, only using the fine toothed side ever.



Magnus

Hey Russ.

To be honest I can't remember where I got it from! It was quite a few years ago, maybe Models&Hobbies in Boronia. It is part of a set that comes on a PE Fret style presentation. I think I have a photo of the set somewhere in the archives, I will have a dig around tonight!

Cheers, D

nice update and reference images D!

Please, can you tell me what the brand of razor saw is I can see in one of your pics and where they're available? Ta.

Well folks, styrene has been cut, TET has been applied! The first 3 stages of Part 1 on the Hobby Boss kit are done, 15 parts involved here. Once they have cured I will apply some sprue goo to the joins to neaten things up a bit. The styrene on the HB kit responds well to TET and the fit and details are quite good.




Another hour at the bench, this time work on the Dragon cockpit.


And a couple of dry-fit side-by-side shots.



Cheers, D

Ok, how about some reference images!

First up is airframe V484. I can only find 3 images tagged as this one, and only 1 image clearly shows the 484 code.




Airframe V555 on the other hand was quite a celebrity, especially when the US forces found it and made quite a show of disassembling it.
First a few shots in flight and intact.




Next a dozen shots on the ground after a forced landing and abandonment, only to be found intact by US forces.













And finally, lifted back onto its feet and disassembled.






Some really nice clear images amongst them, plenty of detail to be found.

Interesting to note that in the first 3 images of V555, the airframe number is not seen on the front wheel cover, but in the final image it is clearly visible. Perhaps the first 3 images were taken prior to it having the full paint job and stencilling done.

If anybody has any other images of these aircraft that aren't shown here, please feel free to post them up.

Cheers, D

Yes indeed mate, having a hard time holding back the Xacto and TET right now

Cheers, D

Damian,
Glad to see you motivated! Only 3 days to go!

Gaz

That poor bomb-aimer looks terribly uncomfortable. It's lucky for him that the 262's range kept flights under an hour.

Hi Pedro.

Thanks for checking in here. I will put together the rims and vinyl tyres on the Dragon kit and see how they look, but I have also ordered a set of Eduard resin replacements as a backup.


These are designed for the Tamiya A-1a kit, but they will do the job if required here.

You are also correct about the details. The Hobby Boss kit has much sharper and finer details than the Dragon kit, and the plastic feels a bit firmer as well. We will know for sure once I get stuck in!

Cheers, D

Damian,

Perhaps the most unusual 262, and you manage to plunge over two different kits.
Presenting what is inside each box is a very nice touch, the Dragon mould does look surpassed by HB plastic, and those vinyl tires... planning on replacing them?

Cheers
Pedro

Next up is the Dragon kit, as said earlier this is a reboxing of the TriMaster kit from the late 80's with a couple of PE frets included.

Box art, instructions and decals.











Sprue shots with a few odd close detail shots.














PE Frets



Vinyl Tyres (not my favourite things!)


Clear Sprues





And there we have it, the materials I have to work with for the next 6 months in this project!

Cheers, D

Thanks Russ, I'm looking forward to this one! The Schwalbe II Campaign should be really good, lots of variety in the kits already put forward and great subject matter!




Indeed, lying flat on their stomach for the duration of the flight with no room to move. Just as well there were only 2 airframes built and maybe a couple of dozen actual flights!

Cheers, D

well! I can't not follow this!

Strapped in for one heck of a ride!

"...the bombardier operated the Lotfe 7H bomb sight in a lying in a prone position." War is cr*p, but this just takes the mickey! Poor sods!

First up some pics of the Hobby Boss kit. Mine is a "white box" edition so these box images are from the Hobby Boss website.



Instruction manual, A4 booklet format. No colour call-outs, these are on the box base.








Decal sheet


Eduard PE fret, pre-coloured and self-adhesive.


And on to the sprues. A few detail shots here, I will post more during the build process.





















Clear sprues individually bagged and wrapped in protective foam sheet, a nice touch.





White metal nose gear bay for counterweight, another nice touch!


Overall some nice fine surface detail and clean moulds, as expected for a 2016 release.

Cheers, D

Hi folks.

With the "Schwalbe II" Campaign only a week away from kicking off, the discussion thread is a great read with a stack of excellent reference images.

I am going to have a go at a dual build of the A-2a/U2 variant in 1/48 scale, having both the Dragon and Hobby Boss kits in the stash. The Dragon kit is a reboxing of the older TriMaster kit originally released in the late 80's I believe. The Hobby Boss kit is a new tool released in 2016, and I have picked up the "white box" version with PE frets from Eduard included.

This is an unusual variant of the Me 262 in that only 2 airframes were actually built. Both kits have decals for both airframes, so my plan is to build one of each. I have copied the following variant history from www.kagero.com.eu . . .

Another variant was a two-seater - the Me 262 A-2a/U2 Schnellstbomber mit Lotfe (the fastest bomber with Lotfe). The aircraft (W.Nr. 110 484, also known as the second Me 262 V8) was modified with a bombardier station (Loftkanzel) in place of the armament. Limited space in the cramped compartment meant that the bombardier operated the Lotfe 7H bomb sight in a lying in a prone position. The aircraft made its first flight in September 1944 before it was transferred to Lechfeld on October 22. There, by the end of 1944, it flew 22 test missions. Messerschmitt reported on two bombing trials carried out in December 1944. During one of them, on December 5, the crew (Baur – pilot and Bayer – bombardier) dropped a single 250 kg bomb from the altitude of 2 000 m while flying at 600 km/h.
The bomber second prototype (W.Nr. 110 555) was completed in January 1945 and featured a modified bombardier’s compartment – the Lotfekanzel II. The aircraft also received alternative designation Me 262 V11. The prototype first flew in February 1945 and by the end of March had completed 16 test sorties. The aircraft was lost on March 30, 1945 when it crashed during a forced landing attempt.

I will post up detailed sprue shots of both kits shortly, and try to include as much comparative detail on the build process, fit and detail for both kits as I go.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you want to see any specific details or have any questions along the way, I will try to answer as best I can.

Cheers, D

Edit: I've just noticed something in the Kagero information. V555 was lost on March 30, 1945. That was the very day that Eric Clapton was born, one of my all-time favourite guitarists. My birthday is March 30 as well. Hmmmm . . . . . .