1:72 Me 262A “Schwalbe”

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the first jet aircraft to reach combat service. It was powered by two Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets slung under the wing, and in speed it had no rival among propeller-driven machines. The armament consisted of four 30 mm MK 108 cannons in the nose, but their short effective range called for attacking from close in. The Me 262A in its fighter form carried the nickname Schwalbe, meaning swallow. The weak points of the type remained the short life of the engines and its vulnerability on takeoff and landing.

The kit

The model in 1:72 scale is injection-molded in polystyrene and is supplied unassembled. The parts are separated from the sprues and joined with modeling cement for plastics. The engine nacelles and the way they meet the wing are the most demanding spot of the build on this type, so it pays to try the joints dry.

Building and painting tips

Finish the cockpit before you close the fuselage and mask the glazing before you start spraying. German machines of the late war wore a mottled camouflage in two shades of green on the upper surfaces and a light underside; by the end of the war the schemes varied a great deal from one airframe to another. Darken the engine intakes and exhausts and leave scorch marks around the jet pipes. Coat the surfaces with a gloss varnish before the decals.

Who it is for

The kit will please builders of German Second World War aircraft as well as collectors of the beginnings of jet flight in 1:72 scale. The box holds the parts of the kit; paints, glue and accessories are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.