In Box Review of Czech Model 1/48th Scale
German Messerschmitt Me-263A-1
Rocket Propelled Fighter
Kit no. 4801
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1997. I paid $24.95 for my kit back then.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1997. I paid $24.95 for my kit back then.
HISTORY:
The Messerschmitt Me 263 Scholle was a rocket-powered fighter aircraft developed from the Me 163 Komet towards the end of World War II. Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power as the rapidly deteriorating military situation in Germany prevented the completion of the test program.
Although the Me 163 had very short endurance, it had originally been even shorter. In the original design, the engine had only one throttle setting, "full on", and burned through its fuel in a few minutes.
Not only did this further limit endurance, in flight testing, pilots found the aircraft quickly exhibited compressibility effects as soon as they levelled off from the climb and speeds picked up.
This led the RLM to demand the addition of a throttle, leading to lengthy delays and a dramatic decrease in fuel economy when throttled.
This problem was addressed in the slightly updated Me 163C. This featured the same HWK 509B or -C dual chamber rocket engine already trialled on the Me 163B V6 and V18 prototypes.
The main upper chamber was tuned for high thrust while the lower Marschofen combustion chamber was designed for a much lower thrust output (about 400 kgf maximum) for economic cruise. In operation, throttling was accomplished by starting or stopping the main engine, which was about four times as powerful as the smaller one.
This change greatly simplified the engine, while also retaining much higher efficiency during cruise. Along with slightly increased fuel tankage, the powered endurance rose to about 12 minutes, a 50% improvement. As the aircraft spent only a short time climbing, this meant the time at combat altitude would be more than doubled.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter-Interceptor
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt/Junkers
Designer: Alexander Lippisch
First flight: August 1944 (Unpowered)
Primary user: Luftwaffe
Number built: 1
Developed from: Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
The Messerschmitt Me 263 Scholle was a rocket-powered fighter aircraft developed from the Me 163 Komet towards the end of World War II. Three prototypes were built but never flown under their own power as the rapidly deteriorating military situation in Germany prevented the completion of the test program.
Although the Me 163 had very short endurance, it had originally been even shorter. In the original design, the engine had only one throttle setting, "full on", and burned through its fuel in a few minutes.
Not only did this further limit endurance, in flight testing, pilots found the aircraft quickly exhibited compressibility effects as soon as they levelled off from the climb and speeds picked up.
This led the RLM to demand the addition of a throttle, leading to lengthy delays and a dramatic decrease in fuel economy when throttled.
This problem was addressed in the slightly updated Me 163C. This featured the same HWK 509B or -C dual chamber rocket engine already trialled on the Me 163B V6 and V18 prototypes.
The main upper chamber was tuned for high thrust while the lower Marschofen combustion chamber was designed for a much lower thrust output (about 400 kgf maximum) for economic cruise. In operation, throttling was accomplished by starting or stopping the main engine, which was about four times as powerful as the smaller one.
This change greatly simplified the engine, while also retaining much higher efficiency during cruise. Along with slightly increased fuel tankage, the powered endurance rose to about 12 minutes, a 50% improvement. As the aircraft spent only a short time climbing, this meant the time at combat altitude would be more than doubled.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter-Interceptor
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt/Junkers
Designer: Alexander Lippisch
First flight: August 1944 (Unpowered)
Primary user: Luftwaffe
Number built: 1
Developed from: Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
THE KIT:
Czech Model was based in the Czech Republic. I think they went out of business. They were distributed in the U.S. by Military Model Distributions in Carrollton, TX. Which also went out of business. This kit was made in the Czech Republic.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end opening type box. I am no fan of this type of packaging, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Such was the case with this kit. Somehow I lost all the resin parts in the kit.
The box art has a hoo-hum, grainy black and white illustration of the Me-263A-1, posed against a background that is multiples of the Czech Model logo.
One side of the box art says the kit is a limited run, injection molded kit, has decals for the prototype and 1/JG 400, 2/JG 400 and III/JG 400.
Resin part are by True Details for the cockpit, wheels and wheel wells. Kit is for adult collectors and not suitable for children under 14 years.
The bottom of the box has a black and white 3-view of the prototype in a splinter pattern of 2 shades of green on top of the wings and top of the forward end of the fuselage. The rear of the top of the fuselage and the rudder have a mottle of the 2 greens over ligh-blue. The undercarraige is solid light-blue. It has a black fuselage code DV + PA and swastika on the rudder.
Czech Model was based in the Czech Republic. I think they went out of business. They were distributed in the U.S. by Military Model Distributions in Carrollton, TX. Which also went out of business. This kit was made in the Czech Republic.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end opening type box. I am no fan of this type of packaging, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Such was the case with this kit. Somehow I lost all the resin parts in the kit.
The box art has a hoo-hum, grainy black and white illustration of the Me-263A-1, posed against a background that is multiples of the Czech Model logo.
One side of the box art says the kit is a limited run, injection molded kit, has decals for the prototype and 1/JG 400, 2/JG 400 and III/JG 400.
Resin part are by True Details for the cockpit, wheels and wheel wells. Kit is for adult collectors and not suitable for children under 14 years.
The bottom of the box has a black and white 3-view of the prototype in a splinter pattern of 2 shades of green on top of the wings and top of the forward end of the fuselage. The rear of the top of the fuselage and the rudder have a mottle of the 2 greens over ligh-blue. The undercarraige is solid light-blue. It has a black fuselage code DV + PA and swastika on the rudder.
Specifications are also given here:
Type: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter
Power plant: One Walter HWK 509C-4 Bi-fuel rocket motor, with a maximum thrust of 4,410 lb (3,710 Lb from main chamber and 660 lb from auxiliary chamber.
Armament: Two 30 mm MK 108 cannon with 75 rounds per gun.
Maximum speed: 620 mph at 10,000 ft.
Endurance at 435 mph: 9 minutes at sea level, 13.2 minutes at 20,700 ft, 15 minutes at 36,000 ft
Range: 59 miles at sea level, 90 miles at 20,700 ft, 102 miles at 36,000 ft
Initial climb rate: 13,800 ft/min
Dimensions: wing span 31 ft. 2 in., length 25 ft 10.66 in
Type: Single-seat Interceptor Fighter
Power plant: One Walter HWK 509C-4 Bi-fuel rocket motor, with a maximum thrust of 4,410 lb (3,710 Lb from main chamber and 660 lb from auxiliary chamber.
Armament: Two 30 mm MK 108 cannon with 75 rounds per gun.
Maximum speed: 620 mph at 10,000 ft.
Endurance at 435 mph: 9 minutes at sea level, 13.2 minutes at 20,700 ft, 15 minutes at 36,000 ft
Range: 59 miles at sea level, 90 miles at 20,700 ft, 102 miles at 36,000 ft
Initial climb rate: 13,800 ft/min
Dimensions: wing span 31 ft. 2 in., length 25 ft 10.66 in
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
A medium-grey tree, tan resin parts, a clear canopy, decal sheet and instructions in a sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with the history of the Me-263A-1 in English, next to 2 grainy black and white photos of the actual aircraft, over international assembly symbol explanations, general instructions and the parts trees illustrations.
10 parts are X'd out on the medium-gray tree as being replaced by parts molded in tan resin, which are missing from my kit. This means with just the plastic parts you can still create quite a bit of the cockpit interior which the resin parts copied.
Page 2 and 3 give 3 assembly steps, painting and marking instructions that show top patterns for the aircrafts from 1st, 2nd and III JG 400.
Page 4 has four side views:
1. The box art scheme further showing serial no. 381001 high on the rudder in black and a black V1 below the swastika. This is the prototype aircraft.
2. A Me-263A-1 with 1/JG 400. It is solid dark-green atop the forward end of the fuselage and 2 shades of green atop light-blue on the top of the rear end of the fuselage and an all light-blue undercarriage. It has a black serial no. 381047 high on the rudder. There is a log of af a pirate riding a rocket on the sides of the nose. It has a red and white propeller spinner.
3. A Me-263A-1 with 2/JG 400 which has an overall mottle of the 2 shades of green over a solid light-blue undercarriage. It has a black 22 on the rudder and the "Farting Flea" shield logo on the sides of the nose and a white propeller spinner.
4. A Me-263A-1 with III/JG 400 with the 2 shades of green splinter pattern above a light-blue undercarriage, the two shades of green as a mottle over light-blue on the rudder. It has a yellow 7 under the cockpit and a shield with a Me-263 on it climbing high above clouds on the sides of the nose. A black serial no. 381037 is high on the rudder.
The medium-grey tree is not alphabetized and has no part number tabs next to the parts on it. Attachment stubs on the parts are rather large and some flash is present.
It holds: the fuselage halves, wings, rudder, nose wheel, main wheels and gear, seat, dashboard, nose gear compartment doors, foot pedals etc. (33 parts)
A medium-grey tree, tan resin parts, a clear canopy, decal sheet and instructions in a sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with the history of the Me-263A-1 in English, next to 2 grainy black and white photos of the actual aircraft, over international assembly symbol explanations, general instructions and the parts trees illustrations.
10 parts are X'd out on the medium-gray tree as being replaced by parts molded in tan resin, which are missing from my kit. This means with just the plastic parts you can still create quite a bit of the cockpit interior which the resin parts copied.
Page 2 and 3 give 3 assembly steps, painting and marking instructions that show top patterns for the aircrafts from 1st, 2nd and III JG 400.
Page 4 has four side views:
1. The box art scheme further showing serial no. 381001 high on the rudder in black and a black V1 below the swastika. This is the prototype aircraft.
2. A Me-263A-1 with 1/JG 400. It is solid dark-green atop the forward end of the fuselage and 2 shades of green atop light-blue on the top of the rear end of the fuselage and an all light-blue undercarriage. It has a black serial no. 381047 high on the rudder. There is a log of af a pirate riding a rocket on the sides of the nose. It has a red and white propeller spinner.
3. A Me-263A-1 with 2/JG 400 which has an overall mottle of the 2 shades of green over a solid light-blue undercarriage. It has a black 22 on the rudder and the "Farting Flea" shield logo on the sides of the nose and a white propeller spinner.
4. A Me-263A-1 with III/JG 400 with the 2 shades of green splinter pattern above a light-blue undercarriage, the two shades of green as a mottle over light-blue on the rudder. It has a yellow 7 under the cockpit and a shield with a Me-263 on it climbing high above clouds on the sides of the nose. A black serial no. 381037 is high on the rudder.
The medium-grey tree is not alphabetized and has no part number tabs next to the parts on it. Attachment stubs on the parts are rather large and some flash is present.
It holds: the fuselage halves, wings, rudder, nose wheel, main wheels and gear, seat, dashboard, nose gear compartment doors, foot pedals etc. (33 parts)
The clear vacuformed canopy part is next. It is missing in the kit.
The missing tan-resin parts consisted of: the cockpit tub, wheel well interior, rear cockpit small deck panel, nose wheel, joy stick, dash board, nose generator propeller and seat.
The decal sheet.
This is a neat old multiple material limited run kit.
Recommended.
Recommended.