SPA Modeler

This is looking really good John. And you're right about LSP.....they are ON IT!! LOL

And this stuff right here....



Works GREAT on scale automotive paint finishes as well.....just sayin'.....

I agree Future does wonders on clear parts. On a ‘57 Flip nose Vette I did earlier this year my windshield became frosted from using CA glue. Apparently, the fumes frosted it. Someone mentioned use Future. It cleared it up nice and clear again.

A smattering of small details to share today while the main job of cleaning up the nose continues.

The landing gear has been painted. I've put some wiring on to simulate the brake lines. Nothing too earth-shattering here. Will probably perform some more weathering on these but for the most part, they are complete.


I drilled out holes in the nose cones of the jet engines. These are exhausts from the Riedel starter motor, of which the pull rings also belong.


These nose cones have been painted in RLM 02 Grey Green. The instructions call out some sort of bright green but I think this looks better. Since these will be viewed from a frontal angle, I wanted to hide the thickness of the plastic so I've painted the inside of the drilled holes in black.


The engine bodies have been glued together. These will not be painted as there is a limit to my obsessive compulsive behavior.


As Johnie Hopper (over at LSP) observed, the armor glass behind the windshield exhibits some distortion due to surface imperfections.


Both faces were sanded flat and then given the same polishing routine I gave the windscreen.


The rudder trim tab actuator was enhanced using the Eduard PE set.


The Eduard actuators for the horizontal trim tabs are looking too delicate. I'll have to either augment them with sturdier bases or come up with something else.


The starboard side of the nose is closer to completion than the port. We are getting there slowly!

Besides again excellent work John (the windscreen fix, wouh!) but the satisfaction to follow this very visual build of the 262, is entertainment times 1000 !
At least!

- Kari

That is fantastic work on those clear parts John

Excellent detail work all around - this is going to be another cracking build when you've finished.

Wow, magnificent work John! For claiming to be poor at scribing, your scribe work is far better than mine! Sensational John!

Thanks guys! Work on the 262B went a little sideways today as I popped some glue seams while scribing one of the fuel ports in front of the windscreen. Which means the work I spent on some of the bigger seams went out the window. But the good news is... I didn't really like said work on the bigger seams anyway! So good riddance! Half joking and half serious. It sets me back a bit but maybe I CAN get some of those seams to turn out a little better. I always try to look at these types of events as opportunities and not setbacks.

I'm trying to re-fuse the glue seams with the help of Tamiya Extra Thin. We'll know more about the status of these joints tomorrow.

A small update that I forgot to post...

The twin drop tanks are molded in halves (top and bottom). There is a rib or flange that goes all the way around the tank which will hide the glue seam. But the position and size of the sprue attachment is awkward and requires very carefully trimming to keep the flange uniform.


Since the sprue gate extends beyond the flange and onto the tank body itself, a series of stair-step cuts need to be made to remove the sprue but leave the flange intact. New sandpaper, which can be folded to a sharp edge, and my scribing tool helps to smooth things out and re-establish the continuity of the flange/tank joint.


Other than that issue, the tank parts fit very well together.

Where do out of work automotive engineers go to work? Designing the sprue attachment points for models!

That is a nice clean repair/fix. Awesome.

It always amazes me where they put those attachment points... Actually no, having worked in the plastics industry it doesn't surprise me at all! A great bit of clean up work though John!

Sorry to hear about your seam popping, but glad to hear you've turned it into an opportunity.