Revell 1/72 Me-262B-1a/U1

I'd like to think that we all know that the Me-262 was the world's first operational jet fighter. Its performance far exceeded the piston engine aircraft operated by the Allies. However, it had its issues. The engines had to be operated smoothly or they would flame out, leaving the 262 vulnerable. The engines also consumed a lot of fuel and had a fairly short service life before needing replaced.

With such a radical aircraft entering service, it was soon seen that a conversion trainer was needed, so the two seat Me-262B was developed. This type was also a good choice for an interim night fighter, so Me 262 B-1a trainers were converted into provisional night fighters, operating FuG 218 Neptun radar, with Hirschgeweih (eng:antler) eight-dipole antenna array. Only a few of these aircraft saw service in the last month of the war and their combat successes are unknown. Several 262s survived the war and are in various museums around the world. None are currently flying, but the 262B that was at NAS Willow Grove was used as a pattern aircraft for a number of replicas powered by more modern CJ610 (based on the J-85) turbojets.

Lots of companies have done Me-262s in 1/72 scale. Fewer have done the two seat 262B and of those who have, it is my personal belief that this one is the best of the lot. Revell has basically taken their single seat Me-262A kit and added a second interior for the back seat. In fact, the fuselage insert for the single seat version is still on the sprues. However, the kit only has the two seat transparency.

This means you have two cockpit tubs to build up and install. Then you have to cram 20 grams of weight in the nost to prevent tail sitting. You also have to open some holes in the fuselage for the fuel tank pylons and for placement of the new upper fuselage fairing.

All of the gear doors are molded closed so you will need to cut them if posing the kit on its nicely molded landing gear. Revell has also done a nice job on the radar antennas as they are no where near as crude as found on some other kits.

Instructions are the near-newsprint quality of older Revell kits and are folded vertically. Much of the instructions are history, warnings and Revell paint information. All of the external camouflage colors will need to be mixed. Why Revell could not include RLM shades is quite beyond me, but there it is. Markings are for two similar planes of 10 NJG11. One is red 10 with black undersides, upper RLM 76 with RLM 75 mottling. The other, red 12 has the same fuselage colors, but the upper wings and tailplanes are a splinter pattern of late war colors, which I'll leave to you to research. You'll also need to locate swastikas from another source as the sheet doesn't carry them.

As mentioned in the opening, this is, in my opinion, the best 262A/B kit on the market. You'll find the Heller kit reboxed by a number of companies and Hasegawa did one, but it is not as finely detailed. Academy's version is nice in the box, but from what I've heard, has some fit issues. Anyway, a quick search showed that this kit was available from second hand sellers for what passes for a reasonable price, nowadays. Well worth picking up if you like the type.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_262#Variants

October 2024

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