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SMER HI-TECH
(Heller) 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT ME-262A-1A/AVIA S.92
'INBOX Review'
Boxart for my SMER Hi-Tech kit
Boxart for the standard release of the SMER Me
262a-1a kit using the same mold, minus the etched set
Reviewer: Myself (rec.models.scale)
A fully built review of this kit exists on SMAKR, see related review links below
Kit: SMER Hi-Tech art.0886 1/72 Me 262 A-1a/Avia S 92 - origins appear to be Heller.
Aircraft: The Me 262 has the recognition of becoming the first jet aircraft to attain service status in 1944 (in contrast it was not the first jet fighter to fly). The Me 262A-1a was the first series production model and was used as a single seater day fighter, known semi-officially as the Schwalbe (Swallow). It carried an armament of four 30-mm cannon and was arguably the most formidable warplane to attain service status in WW2, launching a new era in aerial warfare. Although it required a large runway length and was a bit underpowered, it was renowned as a pilot's aeroplane and offered a marked speed over any predecessor. It's shortcomings included manoeuvrability and in spite of its gracefulness and attractiveness, it proved relatively easy to shoot down once counter-tactics were employed, and the initial fear in opponents overcome.
After the Second World War a dozen Me 262 aircraft were assembled from original components in the Czech AVIA factory, of which three were two-seat Me 262B-1a trainers designated CS-92. The others were Me 262A-1a single-seat jet fighter aircraft and were designated S-92 in Czech service, all of which, of course, were the first jet aircraft serving in the Czech Air Force.
Parts: Four sprues of 65 light grey injection molded parts with raised panel lines come in a plastic bag, and convey typical solid Heller quality so I am pretty confident the kits origins are thus. Because this kit is marketed under Smer's Hi-Tech label it also comes with a silver Eduard etched set with the SMER logo also on it, plus an acetate film for the instrument panel. The etched set typically is for essentially a fit out of the cockpit with rudder pedals, instrument panel console, harnesses amongst the stuff it caters for. A one-piece injection molded canopy is also provided in a separate bag as well, saving it from scratches but it does have a thick lug attached to it that will be fun to remove without damaging the canopy, which is a bit cloudy anyway!
The Eduard etched set included in the Hi-Tech kit
Instructions: This is provided in the format of a single large A2 sheet that when folded essentially provides an A3 booklet sort of but it is probably best said that the A2 sheet is divided into four sections on each side - like a page. One provides a brief overview of the history of the aircraft in Czech and English and alongside this is a list of Smer kits for filling space reasons I suppose. Another section provides a German history of the aircraft plus the standard information about how to use the instructions, follow symbols etc. The actual construction steps take up two sections and there are ten exploded assembly views that follow the standard Heller/Smer blocky pattern. There is no painting information provided during the assembly process. Positioning is straightforward and the breakdown of parts should mean that there will be little problem in following the steps. You may want to check out the Smer Me-262B reviews (see links below) for any insight into the instruction sheet that I might not be able to pick up in an inbox review. Of course the last two sections are devoted to large three-view diagrams (side, upper and lower) for the three versions produced by the kit - although two sketches are actually four-view diagrams. For painting information on these schemes only Humbrol numbers and their paint names are provided in addition to RLM shades where appropriate.
Versions: There are Four versions that you can produce with this kit, three German and one Czech, which are as follows:
Me 262A-1a, III/EJG 2, piloted by Oberst Heiz Bär, Lechfield, Nêmecko, 1944-45. This aircraft wears an upper splinter camouflage scheme in RLM 75 Grauviolet and RLM 74 Dunkelgrau, with I assume, RLM 66 Dunkelgrau mottle effect, and Hellblau RLM 65 underside.
The second diagram states "Schema Rozmisteini Popisek" with no markings. After some initial confusion Wojciech Giemza provided the translation in English which means "stencilling scheme".
The final version is a Czechoslavakian Avia S 92, 1947 from an unknown unit and based in an undisclosed location, wearing the standard Czech RLM 02 finish overall that was applied to many of their aircraft during and after the war.
The fourth is Me 262A-1a III/JG 7 which is the subject on the bottom of the box featured in the image below - the other three versions are only catered for on the instruction sheet in black and white.
Bottom of the Hi Tech box which includes markings
and colour scheme for one of the versions:
Note: RLM shades provided with Humbrol paints - not all these paints are exact
matches and a couple of them are deleted from the Humbrol range, so some mixing
will still be required to get proper RLM shade
Decals: Produced by Propagteam - with excellent register and I am sure you have seen enough reviews now to know what sort of effort you are in for in regard to these. There is a plethora of stencilling provided in addition to the colourful and clear unit badges, Czech and Luftwaffe insignia.
The excellent Propagteam decal sheet - swastikas are
included in the "half" format
Accuracy: I won't go into it too much here because this kit is simply a single seat version of the Smer two-seat kit which has been reviewed separately on this site twice, so please refer to the links below to get some idea.
Impressions: This is simply a single seat kitted version of the Smer Me262B which has been reviewed on this site separately (see the links below). The moldings and the breakdown of the parts are quite simply identical to the two seat version so I expect the whole kit to go together in exactly the same fashion, minus the fiddly but thick antenna component of course!
There is no real detail at all in the main gear wells and the nose well is pretty well just an open hole in the nose and the landing gear is very basic, along with the scribing of panel lines (when compared to the Revell offering!) and the gear doors carry no detail. If the Me-262B kit is any indication then building a wheels up model will mean a bit of mucking around with poor fitting gear doors and the need to remove the large locator hole for the main gear leg. The fuselage halves should go together fairly easily but will most likely need some rubber bands and the like to hold it in place, with resulting join lines needing some heavy sanding work.
The engine pods will most likely prove to be a troublesome fit into the cut out wing sections and will probably require filling. The best advice in the Me 262B kit I made suggested affixing the exhaust and intake cones first as the fit of the nacelle halves were a bit difficult.
The main wing section is broken into five pieces. A flat belly undersection with the main wheel bays, two upper halves that overlap onto the top of the belly section and then of course the underwing halves to complete the assembly. The wing should fit relatively well although there will be an abundance of gaps one would think in most areas and some sanding preparation is likely to be needed. All the ariels are also a bit thick in scale.
Other Comments: Me 262's in kit form are notorious tail sitters and even though the instructions don't tell you to include any ballast make sure you do, and include lots of it!
Conclusion: When you have a Revell kit on the market that is an absolute gem and one of the best kits I have ever built, and is cheaper than this Hi Tech offering (and similarly priced to the cheaper standard Smer Me 262A-1a kit) then how can you possibly put the stamp of approval on this old mold that has originated from Heller? Well, I guess if you just pretend for a minute that the Revell kit doesn't exist then I would expect this to be a solid representation of the Me 262A which should build up reasonably nicely and give you a fairly convincing replica to add to your display cabinet. Go for it if you must!
Related Reviews:-
Related INBOX Reviews:-
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