262 question

Hi all

I have finally started building my Tamiya Me 262. Working on the cock pit and have a question about the gage faces. The kit comes with decals for the faces but the kit part has raised detail. Would you guys sand away the detail, paint, then apply decal? or paint the part as is and apply decals with decal softner?

I used the decal and in 1/48 scale…it looks pretty good. I painted the panel first, punched out the main instruments, and applied the smaller ones all together. Sanding would be a disastor.

Regards,

Jerry

Use the instrument faces on the decal sheet - but punch them out with a punch and die set (or carefully trim out them using embroidery scissors, cuticle scissors or a new #11 blade)…then apply the decals into whatever bezel they belong.
Sounds pretty tedious (and it is!!) but the panel will look a million bucks when you’re done.

After the decals dry, put a drop of Future, clear gloss lacquer or Krystal Klear on each to simulate the glass face.

Where can I get a good punch and die set? Been looking but cant find one

I believe rollsmodels now sells the Waldron punch & Die set, but it’s not cheap (~ $50-$60?). I’ve used a Tandy micro punch & die set, its not the same for sure but its around $11. I got mine at AC moore.