This is a project that has been running for some 4 years now. People often ask where all of my models come from, and it usually takes a bit of time to explain how much forward planning is needed to keep a constant supply of new models rolling though. Especially the larger, more complex models. Right now, we are starting projects with a completion date of well into 2013 planned. Although, I do have to say that the 262 has been the longest to date by far.
The model was originally designed and built by a man called John Greenfield, here in the UK. He campaigned it for a few years in Europe before selling it to me. It had a pretty hard and short life, so I decided to rework it slightly.
What started off as a simple month long re finish and detailing, turned into a complete strip down, reinforcing, re shaping and complete turbine and radio refitting exercise. On top of which the model was then fully detailed ( Panel lines, rivets, raised panels and weathering)
All of the above work was carried out by a chap called Ian Redshaw. Now Ian is pretty famous here in the UK for his work on highly detailed WW1 type aircraft, so the 262 was a big diversion from what he is used to. The results have shown that Ian's talents ( Not only in the detailing, but also in the structural aspects of such a huge jet) are wasted on them old string bags
The model was then handed over to Matt and Steve Bishop, who are two of my most regular builders. They then stripped the radio, and wiring system from the model and updated it with more current electronics, in the form of a Power Box Royal, running 2 x Spektrum AR12100 DSMX receivers. JR 8711's were used on the main flight controls, and 2x 6500Mah Lipos fitted for power ( Its strange having a plane that I can do 1 hours worth of flying on and the battery indicators stay at pretty much full)
It was then decide to update the turbines. originally the 262 flew with AMT Olympus's for power. I have remember seeing the 262 getting into some predicaments due to turbine issues at one point or another, so it was decided to fit new fresh units. I decided to go for a pair of the new Jet Central Mammoths.
It may have taken longer than I was expecting, but they do say the best things come to those that wait. It's been a couple of days since I flew it, so I know its not just post flight highs talking when I say this is without a doubt, the most impressive model that I have ever flown. Which when I look back at the some of the previous ( C-17/ SkyRaider/ Citation/ Spitfire..... ) Is pretty impressive in itself. The model has that "Sit" both on the ground and in the air, that make it so convincing. The sound!!! The Sound!!! i just cant rattle on long enough about how wonderful this plane sounds. Fortunately. I was not around to ever hear the real 262 in operation, but these Mammoths have a sound that is exactly how I would imagine the real thing to be. I so hope we manage to get some video that will do it justice, but I have a feeling that the only way people reading this will get to experience the true effect is in real life.
Any models weighing over 20 KG ( 44 lbs) here in the Uk must pass through a large model scheme. This involves various examinations of the model during its build process. Finishing up with a final inspection where a certificate to test fly is presented by our civil aviation authority ( FAA)
As the owner, I then have to go to a non public field and perform 1 hours worth of test flights in order to obtain the certificate to fly. With it being well into the start of our show season, I was quite keen to get the 262 started on its tests. With the hope that as long as nothing major went wrong, then I should be able to complete the tests in a few weeks and maybe have the model ready for some of the events during the mid section of the season. My experience with big models is that they are normally twice as complex, and twice as likely to go wrong as smaller ones. Also my experiences with twins, is that they are 4 times as complex as a single... So things were looking interesting for the first flights.
In the end. I could not have wished for a better result. The 262 performed flawlessly for 7 flights, back to back ( Thats 84 lt of fuel... 21 gallons for our US chums) It flew so well, and has so much potential as a show plane, that i was over the moon. The gear took all that I could throw at it ( It was blowing a strong cross wind almost all day) and apart from a stripped flap servo gear ( We left the non JR Flaps servos in place [:@]) We didnt have to wrench on the model once.... Just fill and fly, fill and fly!
Sorry for the poor photo quality. I still haven't invested in a decent lens for my Cannon ( Next on the list) and before anyone mentions it.. We are working on a pilot as we speak. But finding a 30 % German 262 pilot of the shelf is proving to be a tad more difficult than expected.

Regards Al

Ali,

You are a blessed man to have the luxury of owning such awesome aircraft. I believe this is a video of said Me262 flown at Duxford by the previous owner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xQF5vI1R-Y

A little more history on the Me262...

http://www.largemodelassociation.com...ield_me262.htm

And I do occasionaly get over to RCMF...

http://www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php/topic,73692.0.html

I always wondered whatever happened to John Greenfield and the "Ghost Squadron".

Rob.

nice one Ali

Congrats mate, she doesn't get any smaller with the years does she!

Rob check > [link=http://ghostsquadron.co.uk/]http://ghostsquadron.co.uk/[/link] < for news on the GS.

Another "wow" machine Ali, congratulations!

Saw John flew this at La Ferte Alais some years ago and it's an increddible and huge model.

Wow, that is BIG....looks like your team does as nice a job getting her prepped as you do flying!

Looks superb!

We're so lucky in the UK we have someone willing to go to the time, expense and heartache preparing/managing these large complex builds. It makes our excellent shows and events even better! I love these toy jets but there's only so many times you can see a Flash or a Boomer before it gets a bit boring (from a spectators point of view)

Thanks for taking the time to mix it up a bit Al.

Cheers, Alex

Hi Ali
God, that is a fantastic looking jet, you know how I like big jets, there just easy for us old guys to see.
I hope you can get to Kentucky jets.
Chuck

Absolutely fantastic!!!!

I remember reading about this model in magazines back in the day and the job you guys have done to correct the scale lines within reason and get her back into the air is just stellar!!

Conratulations, and I cannot wait to see and hear the video of the 262 in flight!

Thanks

dave

Life is not always a bed of roses. It has seen some misfortune in it's life.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_26.../anchor/tm.htm

I've seen this one a few times around the block in Ghost Squadron times, even saw a similar one crash at Pampa (not the photo's from the post above, but a total loss due to TX batt failure). It will be interesting to see the true potential from this model with you at the sticks.

Regards, Bart.

This 262 has had its fair share of troubles. This was part of the reason that the refurb job took allot longer than first expected. Ian Redshaw did allot of remedial work as well as strengthening.
He then moved the canopy and re shaped it to a more scale position, as well as reworking the nose wheel so it raked forward... More like the full size. True, the model is still never going to win any scale competitions... But at least right now it looks a bit better than when I last saw it fly.
Hey Chuck. Thanks... Glad you like it. I look forward to seeing you in Kentucky ( I need to book my tickets this week)
Thanks Alex. It's great when people appreciate how much work goes into these models, and acknowledge what they are intended for.
Rob. John is still around. I was in fact speaking to him in depth about the 262 yesterday at a small fly in near where I live. He is still building some pretty awesome models. He has just finished a 1/2 scale tiger moth, that looks simply stunning. I know that he sort of took a back seat with the jets to focus on the large gliders. He has been a great help as its his design that my large Meteor is based on. As far as I am aware. The Ghost squadron is now just him and his old friend Al.

Ali try your best not to sell it before we can get to see you fly it at this years shows, first seen it back at Cosford 2006, what a show that was with your Concorde, Daves big Airbus, and steves' Comet

Good times ehh, I took few pics[[link=http://frettavefur.net/myndirModelmanna/thumbnails.php?album=43]Sat[/link]|[link=http://myndir.frettavefur.net/thumbnails.php?album=45]Sun[/link]] that year on my old but trusty Canon S50. How time flies!












Other highlights were the glider duo(Ali and Dave S.)


And this Hawk(that Ali chap again) doing a slow roll over the length of the runway at what seemed like a meters height!


And just for fun a picture of the 262 from 2007 in its old livery.

Hey there was a pilot in it then, maybe he bailed out

Hi Ali....

Your ME262 is bigger ... and bigger... and bigger....

Congratulations...

João Matos

The pilot returned....but he be tiny.....

So when can we get the plans?
reduced to a 120" ws?

Thanks guys..
I hope next weekend should see a pilot fitted.
I am sorry, but there are no plans available for this model.
Regards Al

Not the greatest video in the world.. Excuse all the wind noise, but it was blowing a howler ( We were lucky in that we had shelter from a bunch of trees)
Here is the first video of the take off and early parts of the flight. Latter part and landing to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSJAXNwoHk0

That Concorde was stunning! both in the air and on the ground, i liked the reg . . . G-WISH i think it was. Colour scheme really suited it. I remember being at Rougham a few years ago when one of the turbines flamed out on a slow pass, very well recovered and with no damage is seem to remember. Of all the models Ali has had this has to be in the top 3 of the best.