Done : Major Tratt's Me410A-1/U2/R4: Gruppe Build

[Njaco]

Well, it'll be in-line with the canopy antenna!

 

[Airframes]

It's a real pain when that happens! The exact same thing happened to me about a year or so ago. I'd checked, aligned, checked, and all looked spot on. It wasn't until I took some photographs from the rear, that I noticed it in the prints! The rear part of the fuselage had warped, or was already warped and I didn't notice! Too bl**dy late then!

 

[Lucky13]

*checks his '410* That bl**dy sucks Chris....d*mn!

 

[Njaco]

friggin' decals!

 

[Lucky13]

Now, now old socks.....language!

 

[Njaco]

They're too soft!!! Which is exactly what another modeller stated on a website about his Me 410 Pro Modellor. Without Micro-set / Solv-a-set the bloody things tear apart with just water! Even after set!!!! I was placing the warnings on the edge of the wing and my hand just swiped the cross and tore it to pieces! Same thing for the gas caps.

Rooting through my cast-off decals for replacements. Not so bad except I have to decide whether I'm going to use the white band decal or paint one along with the freakin' spinners.

That and my hands shake worse than Jackie Gleason's gut running upstairs.

 

[Amsel]

Coming along just great, Njaco. Wish I could paint like that.

 

[A4K]

Great stuff Chris! Sounds like you might be better off painting the fueslage band though...

Glad to see ya up and about too!

Got a tip for you too re the paintwork: No matter how impatient you might get, spin drying the model will NOT speed up the drying process!!!

 

[Njaco]

Darn and I set it on de-wrinkle too!!

Ok, baring the decal fiasco, I also tried doing the weathering and panel lines. Never did it before - at least not in the fine tutorials here - and I went with the top wings as the darker colors would hide any mistakes should they happen.

Went pretty well. Will try to get some pics tonight.

 

[Airframes]

Real shame about the decals Chris - I hope my 110's don't do that, as they are 'Pro Modeller' too. Sounds like it's coming along nicely though, looking forward to the pics.

 

[Njaco]

Ok, throwing some meat to the wolves.....

A few pics, nothing mind-blowing. I'm still working panel lines and wash. Still cleaning a few areas and getting minute parts covered.

Actually I like how its turning out. I never done panel lines and a pastel wash but Its great. Thanks Wayne and Terry!

 

[Lucky13]

Outstanding Chris....looks fantastic!

 

[Wurger]

With Jan. Nice.

 

[rochie]

looks great Njaco well done so far mate

 

[Airframes]

I agree with all, great work Chris, really looks the biz! I noticed that a couple of the decals have been printed out of register, just like the ones in my '110 kit. Think I might use some from the spares decals - just in case the kit ones have the same problem of breaking up as yours did. Thanks for the warning there Chris!

 

[Njaco]

Thanks guys. Still along way to go.

Terry and Jan, about the decals. I got the white band on but it was a bugger. For future reference for your 110 and 410, the kit decals are soft! Don't use any Solvaset or Micro-set/ sol to put them on until its dry. It tears them to pieces.

Jan, when you do the 410, do not go by the kit instructions for markings. I placed a full cross on the fuselage - as per the kit for Tratt - and it just didn't look right. Check my books and stuff and found photo pics of II./ZG 26 machines with just the white outline cross. Quickly removed the bogus cross and found a white one with my spares. I'm trying to stay away from the kit decals as much as possible now.

Terry, I did a "C" model of the 110 from Pro Modellor years ago and I don't remember any problems with the decals so you may be ok.

 

[Wayne Little]

if you even think your decals may crack or break up, give them a coat of gloss clear first...this should help keep them together to get them on the model...

 

[Njaco]

At least I'm not crazy!!

Messerschmitt Me-410B-1/U2 "Hornisse" Revell-Monogram 1/48 Pro-Modeler

"....My advice is to throw them out. If a well-funded and established company chooses to introduce a line of kits called "Pro-Modeler", then the least they should do is provide decent decals. Alas, these suck, out of register and with very poor adhesion qualities, even with setting solution. The good news is there are a number of after-market decal sheets available...."

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Chris and Wayne. I've looked closely at the kit decals, and I can only describe them as 'very poor'. Most are badly out of register, especially the code letters, which I won't need anyway. But the stencils etc are very poorly defined, so I'll use crosses from the spares decals, and I think I've got the fuel markers etc, whilst the code letters will come from a Microscale Luftwaffe codes sheet, or an old Fujimi sheet I also have.

 

[Njaco]

yeah, thats what I'm doing. I figure the only ones I definately need are the spinner spirals and the band. The band went on well so I have fingers crossed when I get to the spinners.

and I'm sticking to my guns! Went back through this thread to check pics and profiles. Almost every pic of a II./ZG 26 crate has the dilute white cross while the profiles have the full B/W cross. I'm sticking with the pics and going white. Besides it seems better. (great English I speak - Yodish )