"Too Little, Too Late..." 
Parts 2 & 3
Me 262s (1/48 Scale)

Eagle Strike Productions 

Reviewed by John Kerr  
 

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We all have our favourite aircraft subjects.  When it comes to Luftwaffe subjects, the Fw 190 just shades the Me-262 and Ju-88 as my fave German WW2 aircraft (sorry all you 109 fans).

I think it was about the time I purchased a DML 1/48 Me-262 A-1a back in the mid 1990s, and then sat down to build this "challenging" kit, that I started praying to "The Model Gods" on an almost daily basis for Tamiya or Hasegawa to produce a new easy-to-build kit of a single-seat Me-262 in 1/48 scale.

Many years have now passed without a new 1/48 Me-262 kit being released and my DML Me-262 remains unfinished.  However, my Me-262 prays have finally been answered by Tamiya with the release of their 1/48 scale Me-262 A-2a.  

In hindsight, perhaps I should have been more specific in my prayers and stated "please may I have a new 1/48 scale Me-262 A-1, not an A-2a".  Seriously,  I'm in the early stages of building my first Tamiya Me-262 (yes, I did buy two) as an A-1 (using a soon-to-have Eagle Editions Ltd. replacement nose part) and want to cast my vote right now for it to be "The Kit Of The Year".  

With the release of a brand new 1/48 Me-262, we can expect to see numerous new decal sets (and resin replacement parts and update sets) for it.  In this posting I review the two recent new sets from Eagle Strike Productions which cover nine single-seat Me-262s.

Feel free to email me your comments (but please be constructive) or additional interesting information on the subjects of this decal review.  Alternatively, post your additional information on PLANE TALKING for us all to share.

ESP 48063 "Too Little, Too Late... Pt. II"

The four Me-262 subjects covered in set ESP 48063 are:

1. Yellow 5 Me-262 A-2 W.Nr. 110007 flown by VFF2 Anton Schoppler of II./JG 7 as at Fassberg on 8th May, 1945.  Camo scheme is splotchy RLM 83 (Dark Green) and RLM 82 (Light Green) over RLM 76 with a low fuselage demarcation line.  The splotching is very heavy on the fuselage and become more sparse on the upper tailfin and rudder.  The engine cowling nose ring and upper panel are Natural Metal.  The RVD band consists of a single Blue and Red vertical stripe (note: - the Red does not overlap on top).  
    

2. White 3 Me-262 A-1 W.Nr. 500071 crash-landed by FHR Hans Guido Mutke at Zurich-Dubendorf on April 25th 1945.  Another JG 7 marked aircraft finished in a more traditional camo scheme of RLM 83 and RLM 82 on upper surfaces over RLM 76 with a high fuselage demarcation line and moderate splotching over fuselage sides, tailfin and rudder.  The RVD band consists of a single Blue and Red vertical stripe (note: - the Red overlaps on top).  There is also a small Red dot on the engine, just forward of the wing, and its purpose is unknown.
    

3. Yellow 3 Me-262 A-1a W.Nr. 170305 of 9/JG 54 as at Munchen-Rein Airfield, May 1945.  Camo scheme is RLM 83  on upper surfaces over RLM 76 with heavy splotching of RLM 83 on fuselage sides and engine nacelles (note:- from my examination of pictures, the RLM 83 looks heavily weathered &/or patchy and stained, especially on the fuselage).  The vertical fin and rudder feature hard edge streaking of Dark Green (RLM 70 Black Green) over RLM 76.  A faded Black or very Dark Green (possibly RLM 70 Black Green) stripe runs from the "Totenkopf" (Death's Head) KG 54 badge (just below windscreen) to the wing trailing edge.  The RVD band is large Blue (RLM Blue 25) and White checks.
   
   You may recognise Yellow 3 as it featured recently on HyperScale as the subject of Brett's superbly constructed & finished 1/48 Tamiya Me-262.  The history and colour scheme of Yellow 3 was discussed at length by Luftwaffe modellers and enthusiasts back in the 1990s.  Experten Decals devoted a whole decal sheet and booklet to Yellow 3 back in 1997 on their set ED-2A (authored by David E. Brown and David Wadman, artwork by Thomas A. Tullis and features three b&w photos of the actual aircraft, albeit in its abandoned state).  It was originally deduced that the RVD band consisted of large Green and White checks.  However further research, after the release of ED-2A, led to the conclusion the checks were Blue and White.  So, to cut a very long story short, if you're interested in finding out more about the revised conclusions on Yellow 3 then simply go to http://www.stormbirds.com/experten/products3addendum.htm.
   
    

4. White 888 "Ginny H" Me-262 A-1 W.Nr. 500491 flown by OFW Heinz Arnold of 11./JG 7 is depicted in captured U.S. markings.  Another JG 7 marked aircraft finished in splotchy RLM 83 and RLM 82 on upper surfaces, tailfin and rudder over RLM 76.  The front nose area (not just the nose cap) is painted Red.  The JG 7 RVD band has been overpainted in RLM 82 (depicted as a darker shade of Dark Green compared to the surrounding RLM 82).  All national insignia have also been overpainted.
   
   This aircraft was flown from Saatz to Lechfield on May 8th, 1945, where it was surrendered to U.S. troops.  It is now on display at Silver Hill National Air and Space Museum. 

ESP 48064 "Too Little, Too Late... Pt. III"

The five Me-262 subjects covered in set ESP 48064 are:

1. Me-262 A-2a W.Nr. 113472 (no number) belonged to III./EJG 2 (a training unit) before being passed onto JG 7.  This aircraft was captured at Schleswig before being ferried to Farnborough on June 23rd 1945 and now on display at RAF Cosworth, Shropshire.  Camo scheme is an overall solid coat of RLM 83 with some highlighting of RLM 82 over RLM 76 undersurfaces (note:- a previous number or tactical marking forward of the fuselage cross appears to have been overpainted with RLM 82).   The RVD band consists of a single Blue and Red vertical stripe (note: - the Red does not overlap on top).  

2. Yellow 8 Me-262 A-1a W.Nr.112385 of 3./JG 7 was captured on April 15th 1945 at an airfield between Steindal and Borstel.  Camo scheme is predominantly RLM 83 with moderate splotches of RLM 82 over RLM 76 lower surfaces with a low demarcation line.  The RVD band consists of a single Blue and Red vertical stripe (note: - the Red does not overlaps on top).
    

3. White 777 "Jabo Bait" Me-262 A-1 W.Nr. 113367(?)  is depicted in captured U.S. markings.  aircraft finished in RLM 81 (Brown-Violet) and RLM 82 (Light Green) on upper surfaces, tailfin and rudder over RLM 76 with a high demarcation line.  The finish is very ragged with many touch ups.  All national insignia have also been overpainted (the fuselage crosses and swastikas have been overpainted with a Light Green - close to RLM 82).  The front nose area (not just the nose cap) is painted Red.  
   
   This aircraft was captured at Lechfeld, transferred to the US.  It then became Fe-110 and T2-110 and was extensively tested and later exhibited at Bolling Field, D.C.
    

4. Yellow 5 Me-262 A-1a W.Nr.501232 of KG(J)6 or KG(54)54 was captured at Munchen-Reim after being flown there by an unknown pilot out of Czechoslovakia.  Finish is RLM 82 and RLM 83 over on RLM 76 with a low demarcation line (except the tailfin which features moderate splotching of RLM 82 and RLM 83).  Thin RVD band consists of small Red and Black (Very Dark Blue) checks.  The nose cap is Yellow.
   
    

5. Yellow 3 Me-262 A-1a W.Nr. 501221 of II./JG 7 was shot down near Klotze on April 21st 1945.   Camo scheme is predominantly RLM 82 (Light Green) with splotches of RLM 83 (Dark Green) over RLM 76 with a mid fuselage demarcation line (except the tailfin which features moderate splotching of RLM 82 and a few splotches of RLM 83).  The RVD band consists of a single Blue and Red vertical stripe (note: - the Red overlaps on top).  
   
    

Eagle Strike Productions' two new Me-262 decal sets will be welcomed by modellers looking for alternate markings for their Tamiya 1/48 scale Me-262 A-2A (as well as those working on a DML or Monogram Me-262).

The aircraft profiles are limited to single fuselage side view for each aircraft while there is a generic upper surface view.  This is understandable as very few late-war Luftwaffe aircraft were the subject of a walk-around photo session.  In fact, many were photographed where they had been abandoned (including aircraft scrapped and piled together in large dumping grounds) and in rather dilapidated forms.

As with most late-war Luftwaffe subjects, modellers are advised to carefully check the recommended references (and any references already in their possession) to assist in painting and finishing.  In this case, the recommended readings are "Me-262 Volumes 1-4" by Richard Smith and Eddie Creek, Classic Publications.

The actual decals are in superb register and are very full in colour density.  Decals are provided for all individual aircraft markings, national insignia and generic stencil data.   

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Eagle Strike Productions for the review set.

AeroMaster, Eagle Strike Productions and Aires Products can be viewed and purchased on-line at the AeroMaster / Eagle Strike web site.

Review Copyright © 2002 by John Kerr
This Page Created on 17 May, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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