1:72 Me-262-1a 'Schwalbe'

The real subject

The Me 262 was the first jet fighter aircraft put into combat service. Under the wings it carried two single-flow jet engines in nacelles, the wing had a slight sweep and the landing gear was a tricycle arrangement with a nose wheel. The fighter configuration had its armament concentrated in the nose. The nickname Schwalbe means a swallow in German. In its day the machine outstripped everything that flew against it, but it was troubled by an unreliable power plant, a long takeoff run and vulnerability during takeoff and landing.

What the kit offers

A model of the aircraft in 1:72 scale intended for gluing and painting. The 1:72 scale suits even a place where there is not much room in the display case, and a jet aircraft comes out in it as a well-readable whole. The number of parts, the contents of the package and the color configurations for which the decals are enclosed are given in the manufacturer's instructions and on the packaging.

Building and painting tips

Start with the cockpit, because once the fuselage halves are joined you will not get into it. Try the parts dry first and only then glue them, and you will save yourself filling. The joints of the engine nacelles deserve attention: a seam on a rounded surface is visible and sanding it easily wipes the surrounding surface detail away, so fill in a thin layer and guide the sanding along the shape. Mask the cockpit glazing before spraying, not after the paint has dried. Apply the coat in several light layers and make the camouflage transitions rather soft. Decals belong on a smooth glossy base, and once they are dry go over them with a varnish, which will even the gloss of the whole model out.

Terms of supply

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints, glue and tools are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.