1/48 Tamiya Messerschmitt Me-262 A-1a

Gallery Article by Alan Williamson on July 24 2009

 

Kit: Tamiya 1/48 Messerschmitt Me262 A-1a Item 61087

Additions: Ultracast Messerschmitt Me262 Seats 48131

Eduard Mask Me 262A Schwalbe EX 074

Construction:

Tamiya still has the best 1/48 Me262 on the market to date, this is why I wanted to build another one after building a Me262 bomber some years back. I sent Calum and E-mail and placed an order for the kit, when it arrived I placed an order with Craig at Aeroworks for the Ultracast Seats, once I had all I needed I started the build. I painted the cockpit using Model Master RLM 66 I used the kit decals for the instrument panel. After airbrushing the instrument panel RLM 66 I coated the panel in gloss clear. I then placed on the instrument decal followed up with another cote of gloss clear, to take the shine off the instrument panel I coated it in a matt clear, then using a paint brush I placed a dollop of gloss clear to each of the dials to give that glass effect. The rest of the inside of the fuselage and wheels wells were painted in Model Master Aluminium plate, I used Tamiya's weathering set A & B to highlight the detail. Next step was to glue the kit together. I have to say this kit went together like butter & bread, its a real joy to build. 

Picture 03 shows some of the interior parts after being painted and weathered. Picture 04 shows the instrument panel.

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Painting and Decals:

I used Model Master paints to paint the Me262 I used a base cote of Aluminium Plate followed up with the RLM colours. I then airbrushed a coat of gloss clear over the kit ready for the decals. I used the kit decals with the kit, Tamiya have added three choices of the Me262 A-1a in service during W.W.II. I chose to use decals representing Me262 A-1a flown by Unteroffizier Johann-Kari Muller "Red S" JV44 Brandenburg-Briest, March 1945. With the decals now in place I coated the kit in gloss clear ready for the pastel wash. Once I had placed on the pastel wash I coated the kit again in gloss clear to seal in the wash, followed up with a matt clear. I added some chipped paint around the kit this was done with masking tape and some was dry brushed with sliver paint.

Finish:

All that was left to do was to add the final parts to finish the Me262, Landing gear/doors and windows.

Thanks

Alan Williamson

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Photos and text © by Alan Williamson