Some more fiddling with the 262. Here is a better view of that tab on the nose cowl. It looks like the tab gives the proper fit at the front but leaves a gap along the bottom edge of the cowling.
I tried to make sure (without glue of course) that the cowling was fully seated on the bulkheads and flush with the nose cone.
The little tab and resultant gap are present on the other side too. This gap isn't evident in any of the photos that I've seen so I'm assuming its just a badly designed/molded part of the model. It shouldn't be a problem to glue a thin shim along that edge.
Having decided not to use the resin nose gear well, the questions regarding the model forward of the cockpit tub have been answered. Another area that the Aires set proposes to replace are the main landing gear boxes in the wings. Based on their instructions, Aires would have you attach the boxes (RP 21 and 22) along the thin edge of the outer wheel well walls. Without any pins, tabs, slots, ridges to help guide placement. Just slap some glue, hang em on there and if by miracle the glue holds, they should automatically orient themselves laterally, longitudinally and at the right angle. <Sigh>
I have enough experience with Aires stuff to know that there usually is a method to their madness. A lack of instructions doesn't necessarily mean that things won't fit... you just have to hope that you can find the keys to success on your own. That happened on a Academy 1/4 P-38 build. Once I figured out (without help from the instructions) that the Aires resin tub was designed to fit into the TOP fuselage half and not the BOTTOM, things went relatively smoothly.
The main landing boxes on the kit are molded into the top of the wings. So let's take a look at how those look, keeping close attention to the relative position of the landing gear attachment points.
The Aires boxes aren't that much more detailed than the kit's. The wiring is much better defined though.
The Aires boxes seem to fit within the existing structure of the wing bottoms. There's even some positive location aids in the form of the internal ribs. This should allow a positive fit IF the boxes are indeed in the right location.
Flipping the wing over, we can see the relative location of the landing gear attachment points and it looks like a go.
And suddenly... I feel a whole lot better about the Aires resin set. I no longer have to worry about how those landing gear boxes are going to fit. And with that type of positive fit, I can use THEIR position to help guide the OTHER resin parts into place. No glue or paint has been expended but I feel like I've made some major progress here!