Pavla

1/72 Messerschmitt ME-163S

Kit Number: 72020

Reviewed by  Brian R. Baker, IPMS# 43146

MSRP: $9.95 Website: www.pavlamodels.cz Introduction The Messerschmitt ME-163 was the world's first operational rocket-powered fighter, and went into service with the Luftwaffe during 1944. According to all accounts, the airplane was downright dangerous to fly, especially since the fuel components were hypergolic - in other words, they would explode the moment they came in contact with each other, whether inside or outside of the combustion chamber. Pilots wore special protective flying suits, but casualties were high, and accidents very common. Unlike most Allied air forces, the Germans developed two seat fighter trainers to teach pilots the basics of flying various types. The Messerschmitt Bf-109G-12 two seat trainer was a real handful due to the lack of visibility from the instructor's back seat, and the Focke Wulf FW-190S wasn't much better. When the ME-163B entered service, a trainer version was developed, designated ME-163S. Unlike the prop-driven trainers, however, the ME-163S was not flown in powered flight, but instead was operated as a glider, being towed to altitude by a Messerschmitt Bf-110, allowing the student pilot and instructor to glide back to earth. Since the ME-163B only used its rocket powerplant for climbing, and came back in a high speed glide, this training was considered realistic enough for the times, and besides, the instructors would probably have been happier to fly the aircraft with no fuel aboard. In any event, the contract was cancelled, and only a few trainer versions were converted from standard ME-163B airframes, and were never used in the training program. At least one was captured and tested by the Soviets after the war. References There is little information available on the ME-163S, and I have yet to see a photo of one in Luftwaffe markings, and although I recall seeing a view of the type in Soviet markings, I can't find it now. Green's War Planes of the Third Reich mentions the type and includes a drawing, and the Profile publication shows a color side view of the Russian example. The kit instructions provide two color schemes, a standard Luftwaffe late-war scheme and the Soviet version. I opted for the Luftwaffe type, although it never went into operational service, and there is no documentation available except the kit instructions. The Instructions The kit comes with a one page instruction sheet, folded in half to make four sections. The front page gives a short history of the type in Czech and English, along with a sprue and PE diagram. The middle pages provide assembly instructions and some color information, along with a standard Pavla cartoon. The last page gives color information for the two possible marking schemes, German and Russian. Colors are described in Humbrol, Agama, and RLM designations. The instructions are basically clear, but exact locations of the cockpit interior components are pretty vague, as well as the precise location of the wheeled dolly on the landing skid. The Kit The kit, which originally appeared about 2006, includes 22 injection molded grey plastic parts, a photo-etch brass sheet with 27 units, and a single vacuformed canopy. It appears to be accurate in outline, and although some of the parts require a bit of trimming, it is nothing that a reasonably experienced model cannot handle. The cockpit consists of two complete and slightly different units, two seats, two control sticks, two instrument panel blanks with paper cutouts to simulate the instruments, and two rear bulkheads which are located behind the pilots' seats. Photo etched parts include the seat belts, right side control panels, throttles, trim wheels, rudder pedals, and rudder pedal mounting bars. Also included are handles inside the canopy for opening and closing the enclosures on top. Assembly The kit goes together quickly. I did the basic interior in RML 66 grey, and attached the parts with Tenax and superglue as needed. The fuselage halves fitted together neatly after the completed cockpit assemblies were installed in what must have been their correct locations. The wing sections were joined top and bottom, and these required some trimming on the edges to get them to look right, and the wing root needed flattening out so it would join the fuselage at the correct angle. The wings butt join to the fuselage with no mounting tabs, but this is easy to do. Some filler was required along the fuselage seams and the wing join lines. Mounting the canopy was fairly simple, although trimming the vacuform unit required some finesse to get it to fit right. The vacuform canopy is very clear, and inside detail can be clearly seen. The next step was to smooth down the seams, in preparation for painting. I left the tailwheel off until after painting, but drilled the hole in the wing leading edge for the long pitot tube. I also painted the wheels, takeoff dolly, and tailwheel, along with the wind driven generator prop.

Painting and Finishing I selected the Luftwaffe scheme of 81/82 over 76 Hellblau. After masking the canopy, I applied a coat of RML 66 grey to the outside of the canopy. Then I applied a coat of 81 green topsides, following by masking in the given splinter pattern. After a short session with the 82 green, I removed some of the masking tape, replaced it to cover only the topside colors, and then shot the remainder of the airplane with 76 blue. The fin and rudder required some mottled 76/81/82, and this was done after the rest of the 76 was applied. When dry, I removed the tape, and applied a coat of Glosscote. The decals are very thin, and require care, although they don't need any softening solution to adhere properly. The swastikas were slightly out of register, so I replaced them with some from the decal box. The crosses looked right on the money, and none of the decals needed any trimming. There were quite a few detail markings, apparently not used on the Soviet plane, but the Luftwaffe ME-163S has some access plates, T and C Stoff markings, and a few other small warning signs that were unreadable, but which seem to appear on most Luftwaffe models I've seen. These decals are installed in clearly marked locations, and add to the realism. After the decals were dry, I sprayed on a layer of Dullcote, and removed the canopy masking tape. The result was a nice little model of a rarely seen Luftwaffe type. Recommendations This is an excellent kit of an exotic subject, and Pavla is to be commended for producing this kit. Doing a scratch built conversion of this from another kit would be possible, but unless you had another canopy (I understand Pavla used to provide two canopies with this kit, but not in my example), it would be a very laborious project. This kit is worth getting one or two of. Go for it. Thanks to Pavla and John Noack for the review sample.