Messerschmitt Me 262A

by Chris Wauchop

text and images by Brett Green

 Tamiya's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a is available online from Squadron

Only one Messerschmitt Me 262 bomber survives today.

‘Black X’, Werknummer 500200 (9K+XK), was built outdoors sometime around February 1945, probably at the Regensburg Waldwerk at Obertraubling. The jet subsequently served with 2./KG 51 before being surrendered by its pilot to the RAF at the end of the war.

This important aircraft was sent to Australia where it was initially cared for by the Royal Australian Air Force, and eventually transferred to the Australian War Memorial where it remains in fairly original condition today.

For more information and photographs of this fascinating specimen, you can read Eagle Files #5, "Stormbird Colors" by Benjamin Evans and myself, published in 2002 by Eagle Editions Limited.

Chris built Tamiya's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a without after-market enhancements. He commented that the kit was almost flawless - a delightful build with no filling or sanding required anywhere.

However, he did add a few of his own minor improvements and modifications. These included:

• the two top cannon ports in the nose were drilled out and backfilled with Milliput White two-part epoxy putty.

• added a tiny hook and drilled a hole in the canopy to accommodate the antenna wire from invisible mending thread

• some canopy details were scratchbuilt

• gun camera port was filled with white glue

• brake lines were added from fine soldering wire

Black X was finished in a late-war partial camouflage of RLM 81 Brown Violet and RLM 82 Light Green on the upper surfaces over natural metal, putty and primer. Some of the steel components were painted various shades of RLM 76 Light Blue. Panel lines were sealed with a dark grey-coloured putty.

Painting

Chris started the paint job while the parts were still on the sprues. He sprayed all the major components AS-12 Airframe Silver from Tamiya, straight from the can.

Once the model was assembled, the putty lines were depicted with a coat of Tamiya XF-24 Dark Grey sprayed freehand with the Aztek A470 airbrush. With this step complete, Chris sprayed over these lines with a narrower band of Tamiya XF-66 Light Grey, leaving a faint border of dark grey along each side of the putty lines.

Some variety of panel shading was obtained by a very thin application of Chris's Black-Brown cocktail over randomly selected panels.

The RLM 76 surfaces were next. Gunze paints were used for this and the upper surface colours, RLM 81 Brown Violet and RLM 82 Light Green.

Decals

Markings were sourced from Eagle Cals sheet number EC#44 "Me 262 Turbos" . These decals were prepared in conjunction with the book, so they accurately reflect details including the offset fuselage cross.

The decals were trouble free in application, and settled down nicely under a top coat of Gunze Flat acrylic.

Having spent quite some time closely examining the real Black X, it was fantastic to see Chris's authentic rendition of this Stormbird in plastic.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Model by Chris Wauchop
Images and Text Copyright © 2003 by Brett Green
Page Created 18 February, 2003
Last Updated 17 March, 2004

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