POST ALL A.T.'s ME-262 DISCUSSION HERE

thetatau87 · Post by **thetatau87** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:45 pm

Please tell me if I'm being too picky about paint blemishes on my 262, but these seem a excessive to me. Everyone has raved about AT's good quality control, so did I get a lemon or is the normal? Should I seek a replacement or hang this from the celing and display the 21st 262 for close up inspection?

Brown overspray (hard to see due to flash, but very prominet in normal light)

Gray overspray on at wing root

More overspray around insignia

Large scratch in paint on underside of nose

Paint bloch on seat and floor of cockpit

I really don't like that the cannons don't line up at all with the holes in the nose at all either, but that isn't a QC issue. That is just shotty engineering of the details. If interior details line up with exterior features the location needs to be spot on or it looks poor even to the casual observer. My dad picked it out almost immediately and he isn’t an aircraft buff.

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:53 pm

thetatau87 wrote:Please tell me if I'm being too picky about paint blemishes on my 262....

Too picky imho. These models (and all we discuss on here) are mass produced. Returning models like this will A) undermine genuine QC efforts B) increase costs for manufacturers. I have learned to live with slight imperfections, especially in paint. It is the nature of the hobby, and perfectly acceptable considering price...but others might disagree.

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:03 pm

I agree with you Digger. We have to realize that nothing can be perfect with these models/toys. Some of the details we ask for are next to impossible to accurately create in this scale. There has to be a compromise. The more we complain about small imperfections, the more discouraged the manufacturers will probably be to make these treasures and the details that we are getting with them. Better to have than have not IMHO...

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:29 pm

thetatau87 wrote:Please tell me if I'm being too picky about paint blemishes on my 262,

IMHO yes you are. if you want perfect then you can go and drop 15 large on a 1:15 scale.

http://www.fineartmodels.com/pages/prod ... t_area=132

I think AT did a great job on their me-262.

Timbo · Post by **Timbo** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:32 pm

You also have to remember that most people are accustomed to seeing air show birds with immaculate paint jobs or grainy black and whites as reference. So it is hard to judge what a plane of the time really looked like. Also consider that the majority of 262’s were assembled in forests and caves and under nearly constant bombardment. If anything I think it just adds more character to a model.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:40 pm

Timbo wrote:You also have to remember that most people are accustomed to seeing air show birds with immaculate paint jobs or grainy black and whites as reference. So it is hard to judge what a plane of the time really looked like. Also consider that the majority of 262’s were assembled in forests and caves and under nearly constant bombardment. If anything I think it just adds more character to a model.

Timbo you are correct, I even ruffed up a BF ME 109 G a bit but not to much, Even those had missed matched paint and weathered markings, and Some times it would take quite a few damaged aircraft to make one good

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:47 pm

I also agree with Digger and Birddog--on models produced in this quantity and for this price range, the possibility of paint imperfections and even design issues like the gun alignment are hard to avoid 70% of the time, let alone 100%. Yes, the alignment could have been done correctly--but I know myself that I will probably never display mine with the gun compartment open.

For a hand-painted $500 museum piece, yes, I would expect perfection. In a $70 model, I am willing to live with a few paint flaws, etc. Otherwise, it would fast become a $500 model.

As a possible solution for Admiral, and other manufacturers, if they want, they could do something similar to what Admiral did with the Patricia II F-86--pick premium parts, take the pick of the litter for paint work, and charge a premium price and release it as a very limited edition.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:11 pm

My ME262 had that same spot on the seat. It didn't bother me, I just guessed it was from the pilot flying his first jet. Oh course a few hours later my ME262 got smashed.

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:40 pm

I'm going to have to agree with the other guys and say live with it. Hope that doesn't sound too harsh. My 262 has a pretty big smudge on the tail and the same overspray at the wingroot. It just doesn't bother me that much and I covered up the smudge mostly with the swastika decal.

Almost all of my planes have some minor scratches or paint blemishes if I look hard enough, and they came that way. I just expect it. I think I would go nuts looking for the perfect plane with perfect paint.

If you have any modelig skills, you could probably mix some color and paint the scratch. As for the interior, my plane has some splotches like yours. It looks like Admiral tried to give the cockpit a light wash of color to bring out the detail. It just looks like the wash was too wet and made the splotches. That's just my opinion. Has anybody else looked in their cockpit and gunbays and noticed this?

thetatau87 · Post by **thetatau87** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:49 am

This was my first AT model and I wanted to get an idea if this was normal or not. I don't have a problem with minor paint defects, but when there are 4 that you can see from a distance I think that is excessive. I guess this is normal for AT planes.

AT markets itself as a manufacturer of models for collectors in limited quantities and with the rave reviews about good quality I expected more from them. I would completely expect this level of quality in a model from 21st for $40 from a big box store or $50 online, but for $70 from a company that claims to cater to collectors it is a dissappointment.

I have 7 other 1:18 aircraft (2 BBI and the rest 21st.) None are perfect, but all are better than this Me-262. I will fix the blemishes and ad my own weathering and details, but in the future I will stick with 21st especially since AT has not yet managed to release a unique aircraft. I can get better quality at a lower price from 21st in a nearly identical aircraft for the F-86 and Me-262.

I hope that AT gets better with more expeience, and I'm sure they will, but for the time being IMO they need to step up to match their claims of being a model maker for collectors.

Perhaps this model will make for a good repaint to serve as prey for my BBI P-51 painted in Urban Drew's "Detroit Miss" scheme?

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:00 am

Ever think maybe you just got a bad plane? Mine is nearly perfect in all the areas you mentioned. Unfortunately the 8 on both sides is badly smeared. Admiral says they will replace the plane free of charge to me. I’m very satisfied. There are some defects that can be found in all planes some worse than others. I went through 15 Avengers at my local Wal Mart till I could find one that had screw covers and didn’t have any blemishes. My wife about shot me.

thetatau87 · Post by **thetatau87** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:52 am

toyktdlgh wrote:Ever think maybe you just got a bad plane?

Yes, this is why I posted the pictures. To see if I got a bad one that I should return or if this type and number of stuff is normal. From all the responses it seems to be normal and a replacement could be as bad or worse.

I would be the same way as you with planes from Walmart (if there were any Avengers, F-86's or Migs in my area) but that is impossible with a plane only available online. If I saw this 262 on the shelf I would have never brought it home, or I would have returned it once I got the box open. Returning online stuff is much more difficult and costly.

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:23 am

thetatau87 wrote: Returning online stuff is much more difficult and costly.

I feel you there. Good luck with it.

thetatau87 · Post by **thetatau87** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:34 pm

No luck will be needed. Jason from AT contacted me and let me know that I did indeed get a bad example of the 262. The overspray is marginal, but the scratch on the underside is unacceptable. A replacement should be on it's way in short order at no cost to me in accordance with AT's return policy. I was not aware that returns are handled directly by AT and that they don't cost the customer anything extra. I don't like returning the model because of the added cost to AT for a replacement and shipping, but my plane is sub-par.

I should have handled this with AT directly from the start. Jason spent a lot of time responding to me personally. AT's claims of being a company for collectors is absolutely true. Jason's forum posts and his personal message to me prove that AT is more than willing to go the extra mile to keep their customers happy and are deserving of their great reputation.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:49 pm

I've also got the shipping notice from AT for my replacement plane

Mine was missing the screw covers on the wings - a clear QC issue - and it also arrived in a trashed box; though the box condition belongs to UPS. Better late than never on the replacement and my hands off to AT for having such great and responsive customer service

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:38 pm

The swastika sticker that come with the ME262, are these stickers, or are these decals that require water. I want to put them on, but I don't know if I should peel them off, or stick them in water?

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:15 am

They are decals that require dipping them in water first.

Fitzystigertank · Post by **Fitzystigertank** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:38 am

I wish I knew that sooner cause I ruined my stickers. I wonder if AT will replace them for me?

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:08 pm

What decals?

The only thing I don't like is the new packaging. The tissue is a good idea, but I believe mine was missing a lot in certain areas. The clear plastic flexes. Also most etailers size the shipping box only a millimeter bigger than the plane box so all the transport jolts goes right to the plane.

But I collecting is that, get it now as you never know when you'll see it again. Besides I had a call to ask about waiting extra time, and I received a free additional AT plane as a special deal.

DH

I also agree on the guns not lining up, as a detail meant to be opened and viewed, that should have been shown extra care to get more correct.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:29 pm

Got my replacement ME-262 today from AT. This time around, the box was in perfect shape and my aircraft is flawless, screw covers, unblemished paintscheme, and all! Truly one amazing piece of work!

My hats off to AT's excellent customer service

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:34 pm

The Admiral ME262 is on beautiful model. The more I look at it, the more I like it. Just a real beauty.

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:13 am

tmanthegreat wrote:Got my replacement ME-262 today from AT. This time around, the box was in perfect shape and my aircraft is flawless, screw covers, unblemished paintscheme, and all! Truly one amazing piece of work!

My hats off to AT's excellent customer service

Hmmmm, I still haven’t heard a word from them on mine. I got the notice that was posted here but that’s all. I don’t think they have my address so I was waiting for them to ask. Oh well.

*edit*
I just sent them a refresher email on this. I gave it some thought and realized they really didn’t have my address.

I’m sure I’ll be getting mine soon.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:32 am

One of the nicest details on the Admiral ME262 model are the main gear tires and wheels. Look at the nice thread detail on those tires. I know this is a small detail, but I really like things done well like that on a model.

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:41 am

Sabrefan wrote:One of the nicest details on the Admiral ME262 model are the main gear tires and wheels. Look at the nice thread detail on those tires. I know this is a small detail, but I really like things done well like that on a model.

That’s my fave as well. Things like that really make a great model.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:02 pm

I just think the overall model is a work of art. So the guns don't align in the bay, that's pretty minor to me. The rest of the plane is tough to beat and the cockpit is great

Small Scale Military Headquarters

POST ALL A.T.'s ME-262 DISCUSSION HERE

honestly...