1/48 Dragon Me 262B-1a/U1

by Bill Lachance

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This is the third build in my Luftwaffe Nachtjager project. Dragon's kit of the Me 262B-1a/U1 includes photoetched parts for the wheel wells and cockpit, as well as the antennas. I replaced the nose radar with sections of brass tube and wire for a more realistic look.

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The wheel wells were detailed with wiring and plumbing, made from fine copper wire and micro solder. Hydraulic lines for the landing gear were also made from wire and solder. I ran two lengths of wire from the instrument panel that is attached to the forward canopy. Although I could find no documentation for this, I figured that it had to be connected in some manner. The canopy restraint cables were made from lengths of speaker wire.

The leading edge slats were removed, and the openings were filled with sheet styrene. The slats were then glued in the open position, using short lengths of micro solder for the "arms."

The aircraft was painted with Model Master enamels. The lower surfaces are flat black, and the uppers are RLM 76. The camouflage squiggles were painted freehand with RLM 75. I used the markings diagram for the pattern. The kit decals were applied over a coat of Future, and conformed well with just a little Micro Sol.

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This is the final completed build from my nightfighter project. The three kits were built simultaneously over a period of about six weeks. None of them presented any real problems, and construction went smoothly. Building three kits at once is not as difficult as it may sound. As long as they use the same colors, you don't have to clean the airbrush as often!

Bill

Visit my website to see other models of mine, I also build models on commission.  http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/

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Photos and text © by Bill Lachance