I always seem the Monogram kit cheap on e-bay, but I figure it’s crappy…
But still, open to suggestions, and what you guys have to say. I’d prefure the 262 in 1/48, but 1/72 is fine too…
And how is the Monogram (Both 1/72 and 1/48 here ) anyway? (Just curious really… )
In 1/48, there are three kits available (the fourth is Lindberg, not worth mentioning). The easiest one to build is Tamiya, but it’s also the most expensive (overpriced, if you ask me). The Monogram kit has raised panel lines, good shape, low on detail, but is reasonably priced. My favorite is the Trimaster kit, but it can be difficult to find. The Trimaster molds were used by DML (no white metal, some photo etch), Dragon, & Italeri (no photo etch). The Dragon & Italeri kits are pretty incomplete w/o the PE. The Trimaster/DML/Dragon/Italeri kits are also the most difficult to build, but have the best detail.
It all comes down to what you want, what you’ll pay, and how hard you’ll be willing to work.
Just my [2c]
In 1/72, there were releases from Airfix, Revell, and Matchbox but these belong to the early generation kits and therefore are simple and/or inaccurate. The current ones available are from Hasegawa and Academy. I’ve seen both and they’re good. Recessed panel lines, detailed cockpit interiors. Don’t know about the fit, I haven’t build them. Hope this helps.
1:48: there’s the Tamiya overpriced one, the Trimaster/Dml/Dragon/Hasegawa/Italeri one, and there’s the Monogram one. The raised panel lines are actually more accurate than the recessed, because they are built with panels overlapping
in 1/32, there’s the Hasegawa and the Monogram one. The better kit is the Hasegawa, and it’s still not that great. Be prepared to scratchbuild an entire wheelwell. I remember I did.
Ditto on the 1/48 kits. In 1/72 both the Revell & Hasegawa kits are very good. I’ve built both & prefer the Revell kit, which has better interior detail, but both have good fit & build up into good representations of the Swallow.
Regards, Rick
I think the Tamiya 1:48 is a great kit. One of my better builds in a long time.
I built the Italeri rebox of the Dragon 262 in 1/48 earlier this year. It is a very detailed kit, but the fit is extremely poor in places. If I was doing another in 1/48 I’d go with the Tamiya kit. It may be almost twice the price, well in the UK anyway, but it should prove a far more enjoyable build.
As for 1/72, Revell’s kit is far better than the Hasegawa offering, at around a third the price! Eduard and CMK do a huge range of PE and resin for this kit, ranging from cockpit upgrades, to exposed engines and complete replacement flaps, ailerons etc. CMK also do a kit to convert it to the 50mm cannon version if you fancy something a little different.
Karl
I built the italeri boxing of the dragon kit once, It’s pretty much the same, no photoetch or noseweights. I have several tips for people attempting to build this kit
-don’t install the cockpit tub until the end. install the gunbay, then right underneeth there should be enough space for about 10 or so pennies, mount them without superglue, then seal it off with some modeling clay, then install the cockpit tub. everything should fit fine, wihtout filler there.
-the only places I needed filler was the underside of the wing-fuselage attachment. Be especially careful about the top.
-abandon the vinyl tires. get resin.
-make sure you superglue the wing tops and the wing bottoms extremely secure, especially at the wheel well part. I didn’t and the struts didn’t fit.
KJ200 and rjkplasticmod,
Is this 1/72 Revell 262 a new release from Revell-Germany?
I got it now. It was released by Revell-Binney and Smith in 1998. And sorry for the mix-up, it’s the 1/72 Academy Me 163 that I’ve seen not Me262.
I found on the Monogram kit that the panel over the guns was way to short about 2mm and had to made open…
no such problem on the Tamiya kit…J.S…
Price issues aside, the Tamiya offering is a fantastic kit that is a joy to build. If you go with this you should have no problems producing a great model.
Darren
…have to agree with Pix…especially with regard to the Trimaster/DML/Dragon kit…
best 'o luck to ya akuma…
The Revell Me262 series are about the best on the market in 1:72 scale IMHO.
Revell released the interceptor, fighter bomber and the recon or Aufklarer version during the late 90’s. All feature fine recessed panel lines and nicely detailed cockpits, even extending to having the exterior cockpit tub detail which forms part of the main wheel bays. My only gripe about them is the one piece cockpits. I still think Squadron make a vacc canopy for the Me262 though.
Recommended and at AU$6-10 a kit, buy several of them!
Here is one of the older kits that were available in 1:72. A Matchbox Me262A-1a
Quick and easy build of which I used one of my diminishing Matchbox stands to pose in-flight
HTH
cheers
Mike
Revell Germany is by far the best 262 in 1/72. Pity about the canopy, but vac-forms are available and, given the price of the kit, affordable. They also did the 2-seater, with options for a trainer or a nightfighter.
I think the Italeri/ Revell Germany re-issue of the Trimaster/ Dragon is much better than the Tamiya one, but then, I don’t like ‘shake-the-box’ kits very much. You can aviod the problems with the vinyl tyres if you line the wheel rims with bare metal foil or similar. The tyres won’t then react with the plastic of the kit. Also, the Italeri boxing is barely a third, in the UK at least, the price of the Tamiya.
Chris.
I just bought the DML Nachtjager version. Haven’t started it yet but it looks good. Vinyl tires and PE included. Anyone built this kit?
Steve
crockett - I’m building my 11th kit from those molds (Trimaster/DML/Dragon) right now. If you follow it, I’ll be showing all the parts that need attention, as well as how I deal with it. The main parts of concern are whe engine/wing fit, lower wing/fuselage fit, tail/rudder, main gear/ wells, and fitting the gearbay/cockpit to the fuselage. As long as you take your time, work carefully, and dryfit as you go, it REALLY builds into a nice kit.
Pix,
Are you volunteering to post a step by step on the DML 262 family? Hah! had to throw that one in…
Anyway it sounds like just about every assembly has the typical DML issues (aircraft). I was just looking at the instructions and they recomend the belly and lower wings to be painted “steel”. Any tips? I mean I have no problem shooting the underside in steel, but, is this correct?
Steve
Yes, crocket, I’m going through the areas of concern on the kit. I’ve done two post here about it, but you can see it on another site in one place. Here it is:
http://www.scalehobby.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2831
That color callout is questionable. If you’re building the nightfighter, semi-gloss black would be appropriate. In “Gunzespeak,” that would be #33 instead of #28.