HobbyBoss 1/48 scale Me262 A-2a/U2

[BlackSheep214]

I bought this kit a few years ago because it's a unique Me262. The kit:




I will admit... I've gone pretty far on this kit. Waiting for paint but I have to order the colors and masks I need thru scalehobbyist. I will pause here for now after I return from a family trip to Maine Sunday - Wednesday of next week.

I will post a pic of how far I've gone on this 262 later tonight.

[BlackSheep214]

She's all buttoned up and ready for paint...




Size comparison to the Bf109...




Now, if someone can enlighten me.... what are these tube parts - part #G15. Rockets of sorts?



I couldn't find anything online what they are.

[keavdog]

Cool! Curious what this variant was about - I'll have to look it up.
Perhaps those parts you're asking about are JATO bottles.

[Gary Brantley]

Perhaps those parts you're asking about are JATO bottles.

My bet as well, especially since it is the bomber variant.

[BlackSheep214]

Yeah, they are bomber variants. Bomb sight in the nose for second crew member. I’m doing the captured bird, number 555 since that plane was more of a celebrity than 484.

Now to research JATO tubes for this bird and find out what color they’re suppose to be. Instruction guide didn’t state it. My assumption it’s the same color as the undersides, RLM 76 (late war color).

[BlackSheep214]

Did a little researching on the tubes. Come to find out you are correct… they’re RATO tubes - Rocket Assisted Take Off tubes. Now I know what color to paint them…

[keavdog]

RATO, JATO, potatooo, potato

[tempestjohnny]

RATO, JATO, potatooo, potato

[BlackSheep214]

Good Lord.... just can't wait to head out to Maine.

[BlackSheep214]

Ok... there's some variations on color assignments. First the color guide for V555 that I'm doing...



Color call outs are: RLM76 Light Blue, RLM82 Light Green, and RLM83 Dark Green


Now take a look at the box cover...



It certainly doesn't look the same. I did a paint swatches of what I have as RLM76, RLM82 & RLM83. None of them matched the guide insert nor the box cover.

So this gave me pause on this to research further prior to my trip to Maine.

My RLM76 is Light Blue. Guide and box cover shows much different color; not light blue in color.

Both my RLM82 is passable; RLM83 is more dark green than from the box cover. Box cover is more brownish.

Now... I was looking at AK Interactive Real Colors for further comparisons at Scalehobbyist. Here's what I learned:

RLM76 - There are 3 color versions. My RLM76 Light Blue is actually Version 2. I bought RLM76 version 1 Blue ; which has a bit of grey blue in color. My RLM76 is actually version 2 Light Blue. The third RLM76 is Late War - I bought this color because it makes sense on the guide insert and box color. Late War RLM76 is white with yellow tint.

This is RLM76 Late War applied to the undersides of the Me262 I'm building. I'm happy with it.




Now onward with RLM82 & RLM83....

The RLM82 I bought is to compare with my Model Master RLM82. I liked AK Real Color RLM82 better. It's a bit lighter than Model Master.

Now comes to the great debate of RLM83. As per my research, RLM83 was often mistaken for RLM81. In reality RLM83 is actually dark blue in color (Dunkelblau), not dark green as one thinks.

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagorie ... =6&man=AKI

With that said Scalehobbyist lists 3 different RLM81 shades. I bought RLM81 version 1 and RLM81 Braunviolet version 3.
My “RLM83”in my stash matched Real Color's RLM81 version 2 - the dark green in color. Now I redesignated my RLM83 to RLM81 version 2.

RLM81 version 1 is more brown; version 3 is sort of brownish green with a tiny hint of purple. Version 1 is what I'm going to run with on this build. It matches the box cover.

I really like AK Interactive Real Color line of paint and am slowly building up my collection. Thus far I probably have at least 20 - 24 bottles in my stash.