Speed Bomber…1/48 Messerschmitt Me262A-2a/U2 with glass nose

May 12, 2021 · in Aviation · · 12 · 3K

13/2021

And my dad has finished the next 262.
kit, painted with AK Real Color RLM81/82/76, EZ line for antenna wires and brake lines. The kit includes decals for both prototypes. I don´t know why but HB printed the "V555" decals too large. Found no suiting replacement decals so my dad used the kit ones. He could have built "V484" too but there is only one half-frontal pic of that aircraft but a bunch of fotos of "V555". My dad prefers to have as many pics as possible of the original subject, so he built "V555". It seems this aircraft never had bomb racks mounted. On the pics you can see a box shaped apparatus? measuring device?, no clue what that thing was and how it exactly looked but my dad scratchbuilt a piece.

Build thread here
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235090779-speed-bomber148-messerschmitt-me262a-2au2-with-glass-nose/&tab=comments#comment-4082751

As mentioned, two Me262, V484 and V555, were converted to a bomber with a cabin in the nose for an extra bombardier who lied on his belly, flying the aircraft during the final approach.
V555 was converted in January 1945, testflights began in February. Besides the glass nose, also a new autopilot, the "Baldrian" acoustic radar and windshield heating was tested. By the end of March, the aircraft completed 22 flights. On April 24th, the Lechfeld airfield was abandoned and V555 was transferred. Most probably from München-Riem/Germany to Hörsching/Austria and around May 4th to Prague-Ruzyne/Czechoslovakia. A few days later it was flown to Zatec/Czechoslovakia were it was captured by US troops on May 8th.

Reader reactions:
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23 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. A very unusual 262, Reinhard.
    Well build by your dad, it looks very nice.
    I was not aware of this conversion but will definitely do some reading about it.
    Thanks for sharing.

  2. It is indeed a great model of a rare variant. Keep them coming, I really like your dad’s builds.

  3. You can never have too many 262 Spreitzhofer masterpieces, Reinhard!
    Amazing work!
    Pity about HBs too large codes.

  4. Beauty, that camouflage and mottling are exceptional. Before I became a Japanese plane nut, I was a German plane nut in the 90s, building quite a few Dragon/DML kits. I still have a few Dragon kits in the long term stash including this one, and I really should attempt to build it.

    • I have that kit and have it half-built, with extras like resin slats - don't waste your time, just buy the HB kit, which is far better. The Dragon/DML/Trimaster kits were good in their day but their 262s are past the "smell by" date.

  5. Great-looking paintwork. Truly a nice model of an unusual airplane.

  6. Now that is one unusual looking 262. Up to the usual high-caliber standards your dad has set - he has really raised the bar!

  7. Great job on this. 262's without the slats deployed while on the ground just don't look right to me.

  8. Amazing work, looks great!

  9. Hey Reini! Good to see that beauty here too! Great looking model anywhere it's shown! 🙂

  10. Reinhart, @grimreaper
    This is yet another masterpiece your Dad has built. The pictures you took and posted look incredible ! This is the best looking model of #555 that I have ever seen. Together you guys are an unstoppable team.

    I have quite a few of these Hobby Boss kits in my stash. They offered so many different versions, and I picked up about 75% of what they offered. I hope to build them up in assembly line fashion as part of our Luftwaffe group, but they are not at the top of the build list just yet. First I must finish a lot of the kits that I have already started, then a few more that have previously been promised.

    I will take a look at the build journal you posted the link to.

  11. G'day Reinhart (@grimreaper),
    Another great build.
    I can remember looking at the Trimaster kit of this aircraft in the local hobby shop and thinking one day...
    I will have to get the Hobby Boss kit when I next see one.
    Liked!

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