In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/48th Scale
German Messerschmitt Me-163B-1a "Komet"
Kit no. 5504
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.00
Copyright: 1992
I won my contest at the IPMS Madison, WI contest, in their raffle. I go there every year if possible.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.00
Copyright: 1992
I won my contest at the IPMS Madison, WI contest, in their raffle. I go there every year if possible.
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box that is very blousy. It is 6" too long and 1 1/2" too wide, plus a 1 1/4 too deep.
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box that is very blousy. It is 6" too long and 1 1/2" too wide, plus a 1 1/4 too deep.
The box art shows a Me-163B-1a being chased by 2 P-51 Mustangs above the clouds.
It is in a mottle of 2 shades of gray over a light-blue undercarriage. The upper wings have a splinter pattern of green and gray on them. It has a white nose and a white fuselage no. 14. It carries the Farting Flea shield on the nose of 2/JG400.
The box art shows a Me-163B-1a being chased by 2 P-51 Mustangs above the clouds.
It is in a mottle of 2 shades of gray over a light-blue undercarriage. The upper wings have a splinter pattern of green and gray on them. It has a white nose and a white fuselage no. 14. It carries the Farting Flea shield on the nose of 2/JG400.
One side panel has photos of the assembled and painted model with Dragon's address in China.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 4 medium-gray trees and a clear tree in 2 clear sealed cello bags, with 2 brass PE frets in a zip-locked clear cello bag and the instructions, a sheet of corrections to the numbering of the PE parts.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 10 3/4" x 7 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Me-163 in English, French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri paint colors suggested to use to complete the model in the 6 languages, over the first assembly steps.
Steps are not numbered.
Pages 3 to 5 show a total of what I count to be 12 assembly steps.
Page 6 and 7 are the marking and painting instructions.
Page 6 has a 4-view of the box art scheme (already described above). It is with 2/JG400.
Page 7 has another 4-view of a Me-163B-1a that is in a wave pattern of dark green and olive drab over a light blue undercarriage. With a splinter pattern above the wings of the the top colors over a light blue undercarriage that extends halfway up the sides of the fuselage.
It has a light blue rudder with a mottle of green on it.. It carries the white fuselage number 26 behind the cross and a white shield with a pirate figure on it, outlined in white on the sides of the nose. It has a black and yellow nose.
It is with 1/JG400 also.
The kit holds 4 medium-gray trees and a clear tree in 2 clear sealed cello bags, with 2 brass PE frets in a zip-locked clear cello bag and the instructions, a sheet of corrections to the numbering of the PE parts.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 10 3/4" x 7 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Me-163 in English, French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri paint colors suggested to use to complete the model in the 6 languages, over the first assembly steps.
Steps are not numbered.
Pages 3 to 5 show a total of what I count to be 12 assembly steps.
Page 6 and 7 are the marking and painting instructions.
Page 6 has a 4-view of the box art scheme (already described above). It is with 2/JG400.
Page 7 has another 4-view of a Me-163B-1a that is in a wave pattern of dark green and olive drab over a light blue undercarriage. With a splinter pattern above the wings of the the top colors over a light blue undercarriage that extends halfway up the sides of the fuselage.
It has a light blue rudder with a mottle of green on it.. It carries the white fuselage number 26 behind the cross and a white shield with a pirate figure on it, outlined in white on the sides of the nose. It has a black and yellow nose.
It is with 1/JG400 also.
Page 8 has the parts trees illustrations and decal application instructions, over the copyright date of 1992 and PRINTED IN HONG KONG.
Part trees are alphabetized and have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
Medium-gray letter A tree holds: the fuselage bottom, boarding ladder, tail wheels (2 alternate ones), pilot figure (divided into separate body with left leg, right leg and arms), rudder, foot pedals, joy stick, dashboard, consoles, lever, landing skid parts, wheels etc.(38 parts)
Page 8 has the parts trees illustrations and decal application instructions, over the copyright date of 1992 and PRINTED IN HONG KONG.
Part trees are alphabetized and have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
Medium-gray letter A tree holds: the fuselage bottom, boarding ladder, tail wheels (2 alternate ones), pilot figure (divided into separate body with left leg, right leg and arms), rudder, foot pedals, joy stick, dashboard, consoles, lever, landing skid parts, wheels etc.(38 parts)
Two parts are blued out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
Medium-gray letter B tree holds the wings and leading edge slats (6 parts)
Medium-gray letter C tree holds: the fuselage top, cockpit tub, rear cockpit wall with headrest on it, antenna, curved cockpit combing (6 parts)
Letter D is the clear parts of the cockpit canopy (4 parts)
Medium Gray letter E tree holds: cannons, main wheels axle and tail wheel legs, landing skid compartment roof, seat (9 parts)
One part is blued out as being excess. It is a second seat.
One part is blued out as being excess. It is a second seat.
The decals for the versions mentioned above.
MA is a brass PE fret. It holds parts of the landing skid etc. The curved part is not shown in the assembly steps. I don't know what that is?
A correction sheet for the photo etch is included in the kit.
There is supposed to be a second brass PE fret in the kit, but mine is missing. It holds seat belts and the propeller for the nose generator.
Parts have nicely engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
I recently did a review of the Hasegawa 1/32nd scale kit that I have 99% built here on the site.
There is supposed to be a second brass PE fret in the kit, but mine is missing. It holds seat belts and the propeller for the nose generator.
Parts have nicely engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
I recently did a review of the Hasegawa 1/32nd scale kit that I have 99% built here on the site.
Highly recommended.