I looked more closely at pics of the real bird, and decided to bring the mottling further down on the fuselage. I ended up doing this after the decals were applied, but they were enough out of the way that I didn’t have to mask them.
After applying the wash and Dullcoat, it was time to add of the “little bits” in the final assembly. This kit always takes me longer than most. Installing the landing gear, gun bay doors, canopy, and antennas took about ten hours.
There is a red handle behind the windsreen on the right side of the cockpit to which I added a cable that runs to the emergency canopy release mechanism located in the rear canopy. I used bart of the PE canopy restraining cable and added wire to it fior a more realistic look. I used 2lb. fishing wire for the aerial, with a piece of copper tube for the attachment/spring at the tail.
This has been my most involved, and probably most enjoyable, build to date. I really had a lot of fun building this kit. So, without further delay, here’s my 1/48 Trimaster Me 262A-1b, in the markings of the aircraft on display at the NASM.
I took the pics of the underside before the model was finished. The canopy and gun bay doors don’t allow me to flip it over once they’re attached, and the nose weight means I can’t balance the model on it’s wings. As a result, the nosewheel is not straightened yet, and the “D” ring in the left engine’s intake bullet fell out. I reglued it (after searching for it) later.
Thanks for letting me share my fun with you ! [:D]