Kit Ref: 02237
By Geoff Coughlin
Before we get underway
If you haven’t already seen it I have completed a Here Now box review of this kit, so do check the Aircraft-kits-Here Now area to see that under Trumpeter as usual.
What’s the plan?
You’ve got to have one of these haven’t you? I just find it helps so much if you have a very clear image in your head about what you want to create: scheme, finish, fit-out like whether to have the ammo bays open or closed – canopy open that sort of thing. Without it I’m sure that I would be forever wasting time during the build with ‘shall I or shan’t I’ type conversations – life’s too complex as it is for that!
So, the Me 262B-1a just has to be one of the best looking aircraft of WWII – maybe not quite as sleek as the day-fighter version ‘A’ but when you add in that grey mottled scheme and black undersides it definitely does it for me – how about you?
Accessories
The plan therefore is to try and preserve those great lines and not break them up too much and this will mean closed forward gun bay and engine nacelles but definitely an open cockpit so you can see what’s inside. To this end I have bought some accessory sets that I hope will provide that ouch of finesse such as the simply stunning Master Model FuG 218 Neptun nose radar array in brass – a quantum improvement over the kit parts that are, to be fair not bad.
Here’s the full run down of photo-etched and brass accessories that will, in some way go into this project:
- Eduard (32623) Me 262B-1 Interior (Pre-painted)
- Eduard (32210) Me 262B-1 Exterior
- Eduard (32618) Me 262B-1 seat belts (Pre-painted)
- Eduard (32622) Me 262B-1 wheel wells (Pre-painted)
- Master Casters (MST 32005) weighted wheels
- Master Model (AM 32-040) German Radar FuG 218 Neptun
References
Given that this aircraft is a particular favourite of mine I have many, many books to use as reference, all gathered over many years and heaven knows at what price, well, now they should come into their own!
The most useful for this project though are listed below – those marked with an * are primary sources that contain plenty of great photos and drawings:
- Messerschmitt Me 262 Airframe & Miniature No.1 (Valiant Wings Pub)*
- Aero Detail No.9 Me 262A*
- Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe Vol.II Monograph No.47 (Kagero)*
- Inside & Out – a modellers’ guide to improving scale model kits No.1
- Aircraft Monograph No.9 Me 262 Schwalbe (AJ Press)
- Me 262 ‘Stormbird Rising’ by Hugh Morgan
- Messerschmitt Me 262 by David Baker (Crowood)
