Tamiya 1/48 Me-262s
I wasn't particularly happy with the Tamiya Me-262 kits when they came out 12 years ago. Tamiya managed to drop the slats and drop the flaps on their Bf-109E, but they couldn't do it on their Me-262? To this day, the Monogram kit is superior despite being designed 35 years earlier. Ohhh, the Tamiya kit has engraved detail and the Monogram kit has raised detail - horrid! News Flash: (from spending 20 years around an original 1:1 Me-262 at Planes of Fame, which will become the only original Me-262 that flies when Paul Allen gets through with it, being the only original Me-262 that didn't get its main spar cut) - the Me-262 has lapped panels, which are best shown on a model with raised panel lines. Not to mention the Monogram kit has a better cockpit. But if you can still find all the Cutting Edge parts I used here - the slats and flaps and their inner bits and all, and the cockpit - you can make a 1/48 Me-262 that looks like a real one . the Tamiya kit does have better fit, but that's all. And it's still four times as expensive as the Monogram kit.
I did "Walter Nowotny's Me-262" despite the fact there is no photographic evidence he ever flew an Me-262 in these markings. With Me-262s; I doubt any "ace markings" other than Heinz Bar's, because the airplanes were so unreliable any ace likely flew "the first one on the line that worked" for any mission.
There is photographic evidence for Bar's "Red 13" airplane when he commanded Erprobungskommando Bar in spring 1945. He was the first "tripple jet ace" scoriing 16 victories in the Me-262. A record unequalled till the Korean War and unlikely to ever be equalled again.
In an engagement near Achmer in early November 1944, Nowotny led a flight of four 262s on an intercept with American Mustangs and Thunderbolts, which were on escort to a bomber group.
The weather was foul, and Nowotny only went up because Adolph Galland was at the base to reprimand the special unit on Goring's behalf (Goring's three and a half hour tirade to RLV commanders was previously sent to all units as a wired recording; no unit performances were seen to improve as a result.). Nowotny returned to base almost immediately with engine trouble, found a second aircraft and went up again. By this time the bomber streams had passed but the Allied fighters were everywhere. Nowotny was heard over the radio to say either, 'It is burning' or 'I am burning.' His 262 plunged vertically through the overcast and crashed less than a mile from the airfield.
Galland returned to Berlin and ordered the only operational jet unit he had to be withdrawn from operations. The decision to place the unproven Nowotny in command of the unit, without adequate supervision and technical support, was one of Galland's worst decisions of the war and yet another blot on his fading reputation.
Very nice mate. Red 13 is a classic. 🙂
Very nice BUILD
Nice build Tom and I really like the main photo.
both very nice
Very nice work on both of them. I had read in Clostermann's Le Grand Cirque (please don't yell at me) that Nowotny had been scolded by Goering for cowardice and as a result he went up to fight even though he had a high fever, only to crash and die as Rob Pollock has kindly described.
Another fine build.
Well done, Tom.
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
It is so refreshing to see the 262 under a different livery, not that the others were not good, but this one is so very much ... the unexpected.
Very nice work, the camouflage work is very well executed and a joy to see as a whole. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Damned nice Tom! Very impressive sir.:)
Tom,
Looks great