International Scale Modeller

It's been a while since I've joined in on a GB, but I'm really excited about this one. Tamiya, straight out of the box - should be fun!



This is the kit I'm going to build. 2006 tooling, but looks like it could have been produced yesterday. The sprues look great...







The only problem I've ever had with Tamiya is with the decals, so we'll see how I get in with these.



I can't wait to get started, and look forward to updating you soon...

So, later than intended, I've managed to make a start on the He162 and it has gone together quickly and without issue.



The cockpit components build up nicely and do an adequate, if simple, rendition of the Heinkel ejector seat.



This late-war ejector seat was of a new design and powered by explosive cartridges.



The main gear is a little complex, but falls together and is beautifully engineered, giving good results.



This was sprayed and then details hand painted. I hate using Vallejo Model Air with the airbrush and have no end of problems with it, but I use it for brush painting metallics as the pigments are finer than something like Tamiya and the Xtreme Metal paints I love for the airbrush don't brush paint well.



Ordinarily, I'd be tempted to get some after-market photoetch, or at least make harnesses out of flattened out lead wire, but since this isn't allowed, it's quite refreshing to just build out of the box and use the kit decals.



I knew the 1/32 Tamiya kits came with screws, magnets and polycaps, but I was surprised to see them in this smaller scale. Steel rivets and polycaps will be used to secure the engine and allow it to be taken on or off.



Another nice touch is the inclusion of some counterweight to stop it being a tail sitter.

The fuselage will soon be together and I'll update you on that. Before then, I'll add in some light weathering.

Some simple weathering. I really like the Games Workshop drybrushes.



I'm also a bit fan of these AK weathering washes. I used to use acrylic ones, but I really like the effect these give.



Right - you know you're having a bad day when this happens on your Tamiya kit!



Absolutely could not get it to fit, or work out what the problem was. Sanded down everything that looked a likely candidate, but still no joy. Left with two options, I decided against throwing it against the wall and clamped it to hell!