1/24 Me262 Schwalbe - Scratchbuild

[Grissom]

Hi Jim,

 

From where I sit, (far away in Australia, ha ha) you are a legend for takling this project as a proper scratch-built project.   Amazing work and a lesson to the younger generation that instant gratification isn't the 'be-all-and-end-all".   I love what you're doing and can't wait to see the final product.   Hats off to you, Sir!

 

Cheers,

 

Wayne. (aka Grissom) 

[Rainer Hoffmann]

Oh, I like this old school approach. Filling and sanding may be boring work, but for me it is so satisfying to see a shape slowly emerging from a rough blank.

 

Nice work, Jim, and a great subject.

 

Cheers

Rainer

[Jim Barry]

5 hours ago, Grissom said:

Hi Jim,

 

From where I sit, (far away in Australia, ha ha) you are a legend for takling this project as a proper scratch-built project.   Amazing work and a lesson to the younger generation that instant gratification isn't the 'be-all-and-end-all".   I love what you're doing and can't wait to see the final product.   Hats off to you, Sir!

 

Cheers,

 

Wayne. (aka Grissom) 

  
Thank You Wayne! Keen insight. I’ll try to keep the fire going here and not get distracted. 

 

4 hours ago, Rainer Hoffmann said:

Oh, I like this old school approach. Filling and sanding may be boring work, but for me it is so satisfying to see a shape slowly emerging from a rough blank.

 

Nice work, Jim, and a great subject.

 

Cheers

Rainer

 
Rainer,  Thanks for joining in. Your fine work is inspiring! You are right, the emergence is very satisfying much like when you stop hitting yourself over the head with hammer. lol 

 

I think I’m building a bit better, choosing better materials, and using better tools which is really cutting down on the sanding part. I could almost make a tutorial now but I don’t think I have my technique solid enough. Basswood for form, Balsa and or Foam to cut weight, Epoxy clay, a 3-view plan, a bandsaw and a narrow hand held belt sander is a remarkably strong start. 

Edited November 9, 2025 by Jim Barry

[Greif8]

True craftmanship skills Jim - much respect.  Coming from a family of cabinetmakers I can appreciate the skill required to make the Me262 just based on plans and mostly out of wood.  Just wonderful!

 

Ernest

[Jim Barry]

Ha! Thank you , Ernest. I was a cabinetmaker  in the 80s! It was my job, I never ported it to my own hobbies. But yeah right, this is very similar! I have had thoughts of returning to woodworking as a retirement “job” but the scratch building is keeping me from falling for the “feeding pigeons” trap. 
 

I kept this door from my shop days. 
 

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Jim Barry

[Greif8]

1 hour ago, Jim Barry said:

Ha! Thank you , Ernest. I was a cabinetmaker  in the 80s! It was my job, I never ported it to my own hobbies. But yeah right, this is very similar! I have had thoughts of returning to woodworking as a retirement “job” but the scratch building is keeping me from falling for the “feeding pigeons” trap. 
 

I kept this door from my shop days. 
 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful work Jim!  My great-grandfather learned cabinetmaking from his father and when he immigrated to the USA from Germany in 1919 he started a cabinetmaking business.  The business has passed to my grandfather, father and, now my older brother.  I learned in the shop after school starting at 9 years of age until I left for the U.S. Army at 18.  The original plan was for me to serve three years, as my brother, father and grandfather did; then return and work in the business.  I took a great liking to soldering and was good at it so decided to make that my profession.  Everyone supported my decision, though I think my dad and grandfather were a bit disappointed I did not follow in the footsteps so to speak.  My brother's two sons work in the business though, so it looks like it will remain in the family for several more decades at least.

 

I learned a lot of things working in the shop under the eye of my father, grandfather and older brother - not all of it directly related to working with wood - that stood me in good stead during my career in the army.  I can still turn out some nice things working with wood and I find the smell and texture gives me a good link to my youth with some very nice memories.

 

Ernest 

[Jim Barry]

Great story! The Germans, man, they make the tools! The mortise and tenoner machines from Germany sure made me look good. The custom kitchen company I worked for (Kennebec Company) does the Maine|New England high end market. The houses we made kitchens for were amazing. 
 

 

 

but back to the build here:

 

I’m finding  tape as a build guide is very helpful. Here, I’m assuring the cockpit is framed in accurately 

 

 

[Gazzas]

Nice door.  Funnily enough...  I made a living delivering kitchens, vanities, and countertops.  But when it comes to carpentry I never made anything pretty...  strong but rough. 

 

Where would we be without 3m blue tape?

[Jim Barry]

I do not have a favorite scheme for the 262 but I suppose I favor this one over others for a few reasons.

 

1) It's well documented and sits in the Smithsonian, a museum dear to me since I grew up a few miles away and went there often. 

2) It's colorful and somewhat easy to do

3) Why not? 

 

 

In other news, I got going on the engines

 

Here the forms:

 

 

and here getting the blocking in with Apoxie. I only got to one engine and have to order more Apoxie to finish the other one. Dang! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rainer Hoffmann]

Great progress, Jim. That's an interesting approach for the engine nacelles.

 

Not being familiar with Apoxy Sculpt I have three questions:

 

1. Is that stuff heavy?

2. How long does it take to cure?

3. Can it be sanded easily?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Oh, by the way: I like that paint scheme very much. I think you should go for it.

 

Cheers

Rainer

[Jim Barry]

Thanks Rainer, the approach to the nacelles is working great. Apoxie is heavy. Like midway between rock and a hard wood. There’s no rule of course that models have to be light, but there’s a sweet spot and I’ll use balsa where I can to keep it reasonable. 

 

It takes 4 hours to cure and it’s very sandable in every way. It can go much easier with a power sander or dremel but a sheet of 80 grit can grind it down almost as well. 
 

Thanks for the support on the scheme. Nothing exotic. The 1/48 Monogram from the 70’s was this scheme and that being my era it’s kinda a tribute to that kit I think I built or had or drooled over…been a while. 

Edited November 12, 2025 by Jim Barry

[Jim Barry]

Jumo dry fit.more sanding required 
 

 

[williamj]

Old school modeling still holds true, excellent work JIM..

[Jim Barry]

9 minutes ago, williamj said:

Old school modeling still holds true, excellent work JIM..

Ha ha, Yeah. This plastic model kit thing is a passing fad. 

 

 

[Rainer Hoffmann]

16 hours ago, Jim Barry said:

Thanks Rainer, the approach to the nacelles is working great. Apoxie is heavy. Like midway between rock and a hard wood. There’s no rule of course that models have to be light, but there’s a sweet spot and I’ll use balsa where I can to keep it reasonable. 

 

It takes 4 hours to cure and it’s very sandable in every way. It can go much easier with a power sander or dremel but a sheet of 80 grit can grind it down almost as well. 
 

Thanks for the support on the scheme. Nothing exotic. The 1/48 Monogram from the 70’s was this scheme and that being my era it’s kinda a tribute to that kit I think I built or had or drooled over…been a while. 

 Thanks for the info, Jim.

 

Cheers

Rainer