b757captain Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) Been wanting to do this for quite a while! Here's the alternate historical timeline: Dec. 1944, Battle of the Bulge - actually worked closer to what the Germans intended, significantly slowing the Allied advance. As a result the Russians faced a more spirited opposition on the Eastern front and the end to fighting was delayed indefinitely. War in the Pacific continued and in December 1945, after the atomic attacks on Tokyo, Japan surrendered. The decision was made, due to the lack of fissile material, to blockade greater Germany until more bombs could be built. The Russians, however, continued their pressure and slowly advanced until finally taking Berlin in early 1946. The Nazi government had fled Berlin though, creating a stronghold in the southern German Alps. Slow advances from there finally ended the war in late 1948. A war-weary American public wanted nothing to do with a brewing cold war and funding for weapons systems was cut drastically. New modern airplanes on the drawing board, such as the F-84 and F-86 were cancelled. Through the negotiated peace treaties, The new United States Air Force was given several fully functional Me-262s and the tooling for the jets passed to North American Aviation, as they were deemed the best able to produce the jet. Side by side flight testing against the P-59 and F-80 showed them to be no match for the -262. NA re-engineered some of the flaws in the Me-262, such as the notoriously weak nose gear, GE was tasked with improving and upgrading the engines, and the new NA-262 became the front-line fighter for the USAF through the early and mid 50s. During that time, in an attempt to increase recruitment rates and show off it's capabilities, the Air Force decided to create an aerial demonstration team, to be called the Thunderbirds. They picked the -262 as best suited for the team. So I probably shouldn't quit my day job writing alternative history novels, but here's the plan: Hasegawa ME-262, been sitting on my shelf collecting dust for almost 2 decades Parts and pieces from leftover Thunderbirds decal sheets from my F-100, F-105 and F-84 And a few pieces from the spares box to modernize the Me That's spares box 1 of 3, btw! No RLM paints on this one, it will be painted as if it came off a US assembly line, some early '50s cockpit upgrades like an ejection seat and intruments, upgraded nose wheel, perhaps mains, maybe some main wheel well detail, closed up engine and gun bays, then the Thunderbirds paint scheme. I'm thinking staying with the early siver/NMF rather than the later overall white, I think it will look better on the -262. What do you think? Mark Edited August 27, 2015 by b757captain xmh53wrench, Out2gtcha, BiggTim and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I think white would look cool actually! There are a lot of NMF 262s out there (obviously non with US markings like this though) and it rings vaguely familiar with the 262...............but as long as your going what-if, has anyone seen a white 262? Im pretty sure not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 COOL !!.........Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 VERY COOL !!.........Harv Fixed it for ya Harv..... I have a 262 in the stash that was bought specifically for WIF'in it.....dangit I want to join in on this GB. Hopefully by mid summer..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b757captain Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 I think white would look cool actually! There are a lot of NMF 262s out there (obviously non with US markings like this though) and it rings vaguely familiar with the 262...............but as long as your going what-if, has anyone seen a white 262? I'm pretty sure not! I'll take that into consideration - got a ways to go before I have to decide. Started tonite by cutting the big pieces off the sprues. This must have been one of Hasegawa's earlier (or maybe earliest!) efforts, definitely not up to their current standards. Mark Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 This must have been one of Hasegawa's earlier (or maybe earliest!) efforts, definitely not up to their current standards. Yeah, it's an old kit, that's for sure. Watch out for the banana wings! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marauderdriver Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I say FOIL IT..........If North American builds it with Alcoa Aluminum You can too I always love the NMF T-birds The Red, White and Blue on the shiny metal IMHO jack mark31 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 A german jet in red white and blue Thunderbird markings…. Now there is a concept to wrap around your brain. I LOVE foil and all NMFs, but that is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!! mark31 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b757captain Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 I'm definitely leaning NMF - though not too sure about the foil! Haven't had time to get much done other than gather parts: I robbed the plastic gear legs from my Trumpy -262 kit (I'll be using the metal legs for the Trumpy), main and nose wheels from the extras given in the CZ T-33 kit. They're a little smaller in diameter, but I figure that smaller tires come from better rubber and higher pressures, so evolutionary change for the NA-262. Cockpit upgrades coming from the T-33 kit too cuz I have the AMS cockpit, so plastics will be fitted into the -262. The hardest thing to find was a good instrument panel. I thought I woulda had plenty in the spares box but it was kind of slim. I finally found the kit panel from the F-100, will alter to fit. Started test fitting parts, so far it's a mixed bag. Mark Girlscanplay2, CANicoll and marauderdriver 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Go Mark, Go.....Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marauderdriver Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Keep mix'in the bag Mark, This is one that's gotta get done watch'in you jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b757captain Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 I'm back! Truth is I never left but life got in the way. I had multiple builds stacked up that called to me loudly, plus after some test fits of the -262 I had modeler's cramp! It's back off the shelf for a (hopefully) uninterrupted finish. Test fitting the pieces showed that most everything fits sort of ok with the wings being the exception. Lots of looking at how to adapt the new cockpit, etc: I'm jumping around some on the assembly, got the engines together. Everything will be buttoned up to better show off the paint scheme, so no detail painting, just the intake and exhaust. Mark Girlscanplay2 and Uilleann 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardcore Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) Bought one of those kits at Harrods decades ago when i visited London on a school trip. I really liked the rubber wheels and the guns. Never got around to complete it, but that was probably because i demanded too much of myself and lacked the necessary tools. This one will look awesome i thunderbirds scheme! Edited July 27, 2015 by Hardcore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b757captain Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Bought one of those kits at Harrods decades ago when i visited London on a school trip. I really liked the rubber wheels and the guns. Never got around to complete it, but that was probably because i demanded too much of myself and lacked the necessary tools. This one will look awesome i thunderbirds scheme! Thanks Hardcore. Mine has plastic wheels so it must be even more "vintage" than yours! Working backwards from the instructions - after all, they ARE only suggestions! - to get the best fit of the nacelles: Still needs a little filler but not too bad. Same with the wings. I fit and glued the nacelles to the wing top first, then added the bottom outer: After the glue drying/curing, I connected the wings to the center section. Test fitting to the fuselage so far is pretty good. Now on to the cockpit. Mark Girlscanplay2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardcore Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I recall there where both rubber and plastic wheels included. Maybe they got lost by times passing. Most likely nothing to cry over: i have heard rubber tires of old kids can deteriorate frightfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now