1:48 Me 262A Schwalbe

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the first jet fighter to reach series production and combat use. Its identifying marks were the swept leading edge of the wing, the pair of engine nacelles slung under the wing and the tricycle landing gear with a nose wheel, which was still unusual at the time. The fighter version of the A series is known under the name Schwalbe and carried four cannons of 30 mm caliber in the nose; a hit from them was enough even for a heavy bomber. The engines were sensitive to rough handling of the throttle, so the pilot had to open up smoothly.

What the set contains

These are photo-etched parts in 1:48 scale for a model of the Me 262A. Which parts of the kit the set completes and in what order the parts are fitted are given in the instructions enclosed with the set. Photo-etched parts suit every place where the sheet should be thin and the shape fine and where an injection-molded part necessarily comes out thicker.

Building and painting tips

Go through the set before you start building, because some of the parts go into an assembly that is then closed up. Separate the parts from the sheet with a sharp blade on a hard backing and sand the remains of the bridges. Make the bends along the marked scores; a bending tool or two blades will help. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue in minute doses, as cement for polystyrene does not work here. Wash and degrease the parts before painting.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who want to push the detail of a well-known subject above the level of the box and do not mind working with tweezers. Paints, glue and tools are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.