Italeri 1/72 Me-210A-1, previewed by Scott Van Aken

The Messerschmitt Me 210 was a German heavy fighter and ground-attack aircraft of World War II. Design started before the war, as a replacement for the Bf 110. The first examples were ready in 1939, but they proved to have unacceptably poor flight characteristics due to serious wing planform and fuselage design flaws. A large-scale operational testing program throughout 1941 and early 1942 did not cure the type's problems. The design entered limited service in 1943, but was almost immediately replaced by the Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse ("Hornet"). The Me 410 was a further development of the Me 210, renamed so as to avoid the 210's notoriety. The failure of the Me 210's development program meant the Luftwaffe was forced to continue operating the Bf 110 after it had become outdated, despite mounting losses.

As a result of the aircraft's poor performance, several elements of the airframe were redesigned, including lengthening the rear section of the fuselage by 92 cm (36-1/4 inches), designated as lang ("long"). The Me 210C was built with DB 605 engines, as well as incorporating the changes to the airframe. This is pretty much what was done to produce the Me-410. The Hungarian authorities were satisfied with the Me 210C in its current state, and purchased a production license for the type, to fill the role of the Varga RMI-1 X/H, designated Me 210Ca (a = ausländisch or 'foreign') as well as for its DB 605 engines. Several airframes were also purchased, to be completed in Hungarian factories for practice while the assembly lines were set up. Production started in the Dunai Repülőgépgyár Rt. (Danubian Aircraft Plant) as the Me 210Ca with the DB 605B engine, under an agreement where the Luftwaffe received two of every three produced.

THE KIT

This is not a really old Italeri kit as all the detailing on the surface is engraved. There are two grey sprues and one clear. The parts are nicely done and I found a few ejector depressions and some small sink areas that will need to be dealt with as they will be visible.

The cockpit tub includes the rear seater's position. There is raised detail on the instrument panels and side consoles with no decals as you often find today. Rudder pedals are molded in place and there is a control stick. No belt detail is provided for either the pilot or rear gunner/radio operator. With the cockpit built up, it is trapped in the fuselage halves. These halves seem properly short as they should be for the 210. A nose cap fits on the front and takes a couple of clear parts. Horizontal stabs are single piece and the side guns appear to interlock, but that may well just be how it looks in the instructions. Note that these usually point downward a bit when the plane is on the ground to keep condensation out of the barrels.

when it comes to building the wings, one has to decide to open some holes or not. One version has long range fuel tanks and the other racks for small bombs. The lower wing accepts the gear 'roof' and blanking plates for the radiators. Engines are right and left side with radiator plates. The spinner back is trapped between these halves if you wish the props to spin. Exhaust are molded in place with the shrouds. I'm not sure if the engines are handed, but the instructions imply that to be the case.

Landing gear is very simple and the large main gear doors are molded shut as on the real deal. One then puts on the prop blades and covers it with a spinner. The canopy is in two halves to deal with the large side bulges. This and the windscreen is attached after the gunner's controls. Gun barrels, pitot, and radio mast complete the upper surface though you may want to delay adding some of these until after painting. The bomb bay can be posed open or closed as one wishes and if open a pair of large bombs is included. Depending on the holes you opened earlier, you can install either small bomb racks and bombs or a pair of fuel tanks. Some antennas and aileron mass balances complete the underside.

Instructions are well done and provide Model Master and Italeri Acrylic color references. Both planes are in RLM 74/75/76 with various levels of mottling on the sides. One is with ZG 2 and the other with ZG 8. Decals are nicely done and devoid of swastikas so you'll have to find an aftermarket sheet for these.

CONCLUSIONS

Not a whole lot of 1/72 Me-210 kits out there and this one seems to be fairly nicely done. It should build rather quickly and provide a nice model of this aircraft.

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_210

November 2019

KIT #:	077
PRICE:	$13.99
DECALS:	Two options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	2012 boxing