Messerschmitt Me 410

by Bob Aikens

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Here is my ProModeler/Monogram 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 410B-1/B-2

This kit was first released in 1997 and by now a lot of modelers and certainly most Luftwaffe fans have purchased, if not built this excellent model.I  would like to coin a neologism to compliment the other in currency regarding kits like this- i.e. 'HongKongawa'; because the kits that started appearing out of the liaisons which produced the Monogram Su-25 Frogfoot took Monogram/ProModeler to a new position in the 'high quality' modeling world. Everything was there - cockpit and surface detail,good decals, and reasonable price!

Without straining too much an indirect analogy to the world automobile scene might be made.

The Me 410B has a highly detailed cockpit, excellent fit and fine surface detail.

In fact, the wing-fuselage fit is so neat (ditto the tail-plane) that the wings and fuselage can be assembled separately-greatly facilitating the painting of the mottled fuselage sides (74,75,02) and the two-tone wing area (74,75).

The engine nacelle tops are formed to assist in after-market parts addition.

The only real negative is the less-than-remarkable fit of the large greenhouse- you've got to do your pre-fit homework on this one!

The painting on my model was done with ModelMaster RLM 74, 75 , 76 & 02; Tamiya German Grey (RLM 66) was used in the cockpit. Protective coating and decaling preparation are usually done with Testor's Clear Gloss. Recently I've been using a mixture of Tamiya Gloss Black and Tamiya Smoke thinned with water and a few(de rigeur) drops of liquid detergent as a panel line wash.

My 410B was built straight from the box using the excellent Invisi-Clear decals.

The model represents 3U + KS, a 410B-1/U2 of 8/ZG 26, Konogsberg,Neumark, 1943-44.

The wing-mask device worked so well that the slightly-feathered edges were established first try !

At the time of writing, the cost of this kit and that of it's sister the Me-110 have lowered remarkably. Three Cheers for HongKongawa!

 

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2004 by Bob Aikens
Page Created 27 April, 2004
Last Updated 27 April, 2004

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