Timbo,
It is a long shot with the ME 262. For the F-86 it was a simple task of not placing the spray-masking and tampo-prints on the aircraft. The ME 262 really does not have a base color. I guess we could paint them solid light-blue-grey, but this too would be difficult.
We would consider this a whole new production run. It may help if I give you a run down on how these models are produced.
1. I have spoken in the past about master models, tolling, modification, preproduction work, and therefore I will not rehash that process. So therefore after months, to years, of this process we go into production.
2. Productions starts by injecting all that you want produced for that particular run, with a percentage over injected for wastage.
3. Then all the parts are painted. This means the cockpits are painted separately, the struts are painted, the gun housing, guns, seat, panels, intakes, flaps, slats, ruder, stabilizers, wheels, tires, canopy, etcetera. All parts go through the paint process separately.
4. After all the parts are painted then the individual parts that need spray masking goes through that phase. This for example would be the tail, camouflage brown coloration.
5. After spray masking is completed then the aircrafts go through tampo printing. Of course this would be all the fancy German warning labels, yellow triangles (which are actually three tampo print steps, yellow then black lettering and then white outline), white 8, German markings, and etcetera.
6. Finally, after the entire aircraft is completed with all phases of paint, masking and tampo-printing they are put together. BUT:
7. They are put together in phases. All the cockpits are put together; the wings are assembled in one area, the tail sections in another, the struts and tires over there. The guns are even assembled on a different floor of our facility. Once all the major components of the model are individually put together, all those separate assemblies come together on one floor for final assembly.
8. Then with the ME 262, after they are completely put together they have the aerial antenna attached and are packaged.
Therefore, if we want only a few solid blue aircraft it could not be included with the standard production. They would have to go through all the steps separately and this is time consuming, which equates to a lot of money wasted.
Our production schedule is very full. To take time out for 100 to 200 solid blue ME 262s would push everything back 2 to 3 weeks. You know how this industry works…. 2 to 3 weeks will turn into a month at the blink of an eye.
I hope this helps explain the process. Theses models are not made one at a time. They are made in runs. Limited runs, such as the Patricia II are very expensive for our facility. Wasted labor hours on such small production numbers are not favorable in this industry.
But, you never know. Maybe in a couple of months, things will slow down and we will find time to get you a limited run of 100-200 ME 262s. Our silver F-86 sold very well. Well enough to induce us to produce a couple more. They should be out in a couple of weeks to months. Time is critical, but unpredictable.
Regards,
Jason