Messerschmitt Me 262 HG III by Amusing Hobby

1/48 scale
Kit No. 48A003
Cost: $28.00
Decals: Two versions – both WWII Luftwaffe
Comments: Engraved panel lines, abundant recessed rivet detail, detailed cockpit, one-piece canopy, intake trunking and internal engine detail, no gun bay

History

While the HG III version of the Me 262 never left the drafting board, it is well known that Messerschmitt as well as other German aircraft manufacturers were constantly experimenting with new design variants of existing fighters, many of which never got past the concept phase. In the case of Messerschmitt’s Me 262, the motivation was to improve upon its Junkers Jumo 004 engines, which required multiple hours of maintenance for each hour of flight, and whose performance was sufficient to intercept B-17 and B-24 bombers; however, had the war dragged on, the Luftwaffe anticipated that a new generation of strategic bombers, namely the American B-29 Superfortress and B-32 Dominator (which did see limited combat in the Pacific during World War II) would require interceptions at altitudes the then-existing Me 262 might not be able to reach.

The Messerschmitt Me 262 HG III design was a short-lived evolution of the iconic fighter borne of these concerns. The original aircraft, introduced into service during the Summer of 1944, was the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter and might have given the Luftwaffe a considerable edge in the skies over Europe. But a shortage of capable pilots, strategic materials, and fuel coupled with a deteriorating war situation for Germany, led the fighter to have a limited impact on the air war. Despite this outcome, Messerschmitt engineers continued to push the design along several paths, one of which led to a series of high-speed (Hochgeschwindigkeit) studies. The result, Me 262 HG II, was a major overhaul of the basic design. The HG initiatives sought to incorporate additional aerodynamic qualities to improve performance, reliability and fuel efficiency. Work on these aircraft was begun in 1944 by Woldemar Voight, the man responsible for the original Me 262.

The combat effectiveness of the Me 262 in service was somewhat mixed. Its top speed exceeded that of the P-51 Mustang by at least 100 miles per hour, but it had to reduce speed in order to effectively attack daylight bomber formations, and during those few moments it was vulnerable to its piston-engined adversary.  It was also vulnerable during take-offs and landings, when it had to gradually increase or decrease speed.  Jet power was in its infancy, and the 262 was fitted with somewhat temperamental and fuel-thirsty jet engines that were prone to flaming out at altitudes nearing 30,000 feet and higher (the service ceiling of the B-17G was over 35,000 feet). The Me 262 could not reach Allied bomber formations flying at very-high-altitudes and the Luftwaffe feared this would soon nullify its effectiveness as the Allies’ offensive capabilities improved.

The new design required a series of modifications. For the HG III, the power plant was moved from two nacelles slung beneath the slightly swept wings to the wing roots, and the Junkers Jumo 004 engines were replaced by two Heinkel HeS 011 turbojets capable of 2,866 lbs. of thrust each. The main armament of four Mk 108 30mm cannon and the tricycle landing gear were retained, but the 35-degree sweep of the wing was increased to 45 degrees, and the now oval-shaped jet intakes in the wing roots enlarged to accommodate the larger diameter HeS 011 turbojets (which exceeded the diameter of the Junkers Jumo 004 by 2.5 inches, or 6.35 cm).

The result was a revolutionary blending of the wing into the fuselage, which would not become a common feature of aircraft design for another five decades. The conventional tail design was also retained, although some drawings clearly indicate a willingness to experiment with a butterfly tail. Finally, a lower-profile canopy was fitted over the pilot’s position. While this final modification would certainly have reduced drag and helped overall top speed, it would no doubt have reduced the pilot’s visibility, and is a modification that may not have survived had the HG III gone into production.

The reworking of the engines kept thrust output as close to the aircraft’s center mass as possible, while eliminating the need for an expansive ductwork system, which would have increased overall weight and hampered performance. Projected thrust from the Heinkel HeS 011 turbojets was 2,866lb each with a combined rating nearing 5,700lb.

As the war in Europe came to an end in May 1945, the HG III remained on the drawing board. Many German secret projects were taken over by the British, Americans and Soviets and either further developed or scrapped in the immediate post-war period. The 35-degree wing sweep seen in the HG II prototype concept (destroyed in a runway incident in May of 1945) would reappear in the classic North American F-86 Sabre and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet-powered fighters, which would confront one another in the skies over Korea within five years of the end of World War II.

The Kit

Amusing Hobby’s advanced version of the Me 262, the HG III is injection molded in beige plastic and consists of 52 parts, including the clear canopy and gunsight. This has been a much anticipated kit among Me 262 fans, since up until now this version of the 262 was only available in 1/72 scale, including resin offerings by Antares and Planet Models, a three-seater version by Special Hobby in injection molded plastic, and a vacuform kit by Air Model. Amusing Hobby’s offering could qualify as a weekend build based on the economy of parts, but they have not spared the detail. The kit features a cockpit tub with raised detail on side instrument panels, a detailed main instrument panel featuring abundant raised relief, together with separately molded pilot’s seat, control yoke, rudder panels and sidewall instrumentation.

The airframe features engraved panel lines, but these are virtually overwhelmed by the abundance of recessed rivet detail. The main landing gear are quite detailed and are located just inboard of the engines fitted into the wing roots. The kit features internal intake trunking and detailed intake fans and exhausts for the jet engines, although the intake faces could feature a tad more depth. The four-gun arrangement of 30mm cannon in the nose remains unchanged, but unlike many Me 262 kits, no accommodation is made for a gun bay — which may be the reason the kit retails for under $30.00. The apertures for the cannon are well molded, but some modelers may want to drill out holes in them for additional realism.

An unusual feature which may require some skill at seam hiding is the fact that the entire rear fuselage and tail section aft of the engines is a separate assembly. Additional seam hiding will need to take place for the low-profile canopy, a clear part which includes a section of fuselage forward of the windscreen.

Markings

Decals are provided for two versions of the HG III, neither of which include any unit information since the type never actually entered service. The first is an aircraft with a matte white nose and a camouflage scheme of RLM 70 Schwartzgrun and RLM 81 Braunviolett over RLM 76 Pale Grey. The second is for an aircraft with a camouflage scheme of RLM 82 Camouflage Green and RLM 81 Braunviolett. This machine features the red and blue fuselage bands often seen on color profiles of the Me 262. The painting guide provides references to Ammo by MIG acrylics only. The kit markings, while they are completely in register and feature realistic color, have a rather flat finish and may be prone to silvering. For this reason, aftermarket decals are recommended.

Conclusion

This is a fascinating kit of a Luft ’46 aircraft, and a welcome addition since kits of this type are more often seen only in 1/72 scale. Highly recommended, although it would have a bit more allure had a gun bay been included along with an option for an open canopy.

References

militaryfactory.com