1:72 Luftwaffe Wgr.42 rocket pods for Messerschmitt Bf-110/Me-210/Me-410

Wgr.42 rocket tubes in 1:72 scale

This is an accessory set, not an aircraft model. It contains the underwing tubes for the Wgr.42 rocket, which the Luftwaffe used against formations of Allied bombers. The principle was simple and desperate at the same time: a rocket fired from a long range was to break the formation up before the fighter came within reach of the defensive fire. The tube itself was a smooth cylinder hung under the wing or the fuselage, and on a model it is a very conspicuous item that changes the silhouette of the aircraft completely. The set is intended for the twin-engine Bf 110, Me 210 and Me 410.

The real subject

The rocket was derived from an infantry rocket launcher and was taken over into the aircraft with its warhead unchanged. A hit meant the destruction of a bomber, but the accuracy was poor, because the rocket had a curved trajectory and a limited range. Carrying the tubes also worsened the handling of the aircraft, so machines with this armament were even more vulnerable to the escort fighters.

Usage tips

• Wash the resin parts in lukewarm soapy water to get rid of the mold release agent.
• Cut the casting blocks off with a saw and level the mating surfaces with a file.
• Mark the mounts under the wing out in advance, because asymmetrical placement shows at once.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue, because cement for plastic has no effect on resin.
• Clean the inside of the tube out and paint it dark, otherwise it looks like a solid part.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who are building a German fighter meant against bomber formations. The work is undemanding, it only calls for precise measuring of the mounts.

It is not an aircraft model. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.