MPM 1/72 Messerschmitt Me 262 V9/V12

MPM 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT ME 262 V9/V12

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 6 May 2003

Kit Details:

MESSERSCHMITT Me 262 V9 / V12 -- MPM # 72114 1/72

Aircraft History:

The definitive 262, the V6, first flew on 17^th October 1943 powered by a pair of Jumo 004 B axial – flow turbojets. They entered service in 1944 as a fighter-bomber and was possibly one of the best aircraft of WW11 although vulnerable while landing and taking off due to its slow acceleration. The V9 was a test bed for radio equipment and from January 1944 completed 176 flights before being used for high-speed tests. After several modifications it became the V12 with a top speed of 930 kph powered by Jumo 109-004B-4 turbojets.

The Kit:

MPM have produced four versions of the 262 all based on the Heller / SMER kit. They are 72018 Me262 A2a / U2, 72019 Me 262 A-1a/U4, 72113 Me 262 A-1a / U3 & V 056 and this kit as well as 72112 a Mistel Four that includes the A-2a / U2 kit. This model consists of three Heller sprues of nearly fifty parts and an MPM sprue of five parts as well as two Eduard photo etch sheets, a vac form canopy and a photonegative instrument panel. Many of the Heller parts are not needed and the MPM parts consist of fuselage and tail that, as usual with limited run parts, need tidying up. Decals are supplied for one machine and the instructions are adequate.

Construction:

The dashboard is a work of art but as with most of the other cockpit detail cannot bee seen when complete. Surprisingly, there are no seat belts. I would have preferred to have them rather than some of the other photo etch parts such as the ariels F10 and F11 that are too delicate to use and can only be used as a pattern to make replacements from wire. Part F29, fitted under the cockpit tub is very visible from below but the photo etch parts that make up the undercarriage bays, although very nice, require a great deal of work to install. I didn’t feel that they were worthwhile. As all the photo etch parts are common to all four kits I can’t see that parts F20 and F22 fit this kit although they are shown in sector six. A template is provided to make the nose wheel bay roof from plastic card. Useful to mount the nose wheel on and to store the weights needed to hold the nose down. The main exercise involves mating the Heller wings to the MPM fuselage. This involves surgery on part 15. To help sector 5 has a plan showing where to cut but would have been of far greater use if it had been to scale. Part 15 doesn’t match the curvature of the fuselage underside and needs considerable sanding to blend in. For some reason the nose wheel doors are wider than the opening and the hinges (F6) are a bit impractical. The Heller wheels have no tread detail but, being dark grey, the omission isn’t obvious and MPM have supplied some nice hub detail. Although more work is involved than one would expect in a main line kit, none of it is particularly difficult.

Versions/ Decals:

The colour scheme is all over RLM 76 Light Blue (Humbrol 175 / Testors 2086) with a mottle of RLM 75 Grey Violet (Testors 2085) over all the top surfaces. Various surfaces are bare metal with black trim around the canopy. The Propagteam decals need the usual extra care in applying but once in place, are top quality.

Overall Recommendation:

The result is a quite different looking 262, very much a “hot rod” with it’s cut down canopy. I enjoyed making it and will certainly be making the others.

RHS / 71

web hosting • domain names • video sharing
free online games • photo sharing
free blog • short URLs