In Bag Review of Huma 1/72nd Scale Heinkel He-280
Kit no. HM-0014
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 14.39 pounds from Model Hobbies in UK for the 1990's re-release in a box. My kit has a copyright date of the 1980's. I paid $14.00 for it in the 80's.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 14.39 pounds from Model Hobbies in UK for the 1990's re-release in a box. My kit has a copyright date of the 1980's. I paid $14.00 for it in the 80's.
HISTORY:
In July of 1939, the Heinkel company started its development of the Heinkel He-280, the world's first twin-engine jet aircraft.
As Heinkel had recognized the limits of propeller driven aircraft at an early stage, the construction of a new jet engine for high speed operation began in 1936. Work on the new jet engine progressed so quickly that it could be tested as early as 1939 in the Heinkel He-178.
The test results proved so encouraging that Heinkel, acting on his own initiative, began planning the production of a fighter powered by two jet engines. The new design was called the He-280 and Heinkel's main aim was to build an aircraft propelled by two jets which would reach speeds surpassing those of the conventional piston-engine machines.
Of all-metal construction, the new mid-wing design was to feature twin fins and rudders with the turbojets mounted below the wings. Two totally new innovations were the introduction of a nose wheel undercarriage and an ejector seat.
Seeing that neither previously gained knowledge about the operation of twin-engine jet aircraft nor the planned engines were available, flight testing of the completed air frame began a glider trials. The first flight of the He-280 in the pure glider configuration was made on September 11, 1939. This was followed on September 20th by the first flight with dummy engines fitted. The real maiden flight of the Heinkel He-280 as a jet fighter was further delayed until March 30, 1941, due to hold ups in the production of the He S-08 engines.
The German Ministry of Aviation placed an order for a pre-production batch of aircraft after their delegation had been suitably convinced of the new fighter's outstanding performance during a demonstration display. This order was followed by one for 300 production aircraft, which however was cancelled in favor of the series production of the superior Me-262.
The testing of alternative power units was planned owing to delays in the development of the He S-08, preventing its availability at the time of intended production.
CONSTRUCTION DIFFERENCES:
He-280 "V1" - Glider, 4 x AS 014 (DL+AB)
He-280 "V2" - Heinkel He S-8A, Jumo 004 (GJ+CA)
He-280 "V3" - Heinkel He S-8A (GJ+CB)
He-280 "V4" - BMW 003, Jumo 004
He-280 "V5" - Heinkel He S-8A, BMW 003
He-280 "V6" - BMW 003
He-280 "V7" - Glider
He-280 "V8" - Jumo 004
In July of 1939, the Heinkel company started its development of the Heinkel He-280, the world's first twin-engine jet aircraft.
As Heinkel had recognized the limits of propeller driven aircraft at an early stage, the construction of a new jet engine for high speed operation began in 1936. Work on the new jet engine progressed so quickly that it could be tested as early as 1939 in the Heinkel He-178.
The test results proved so encouraging that Heinkel, acting on his own initiative, began planning the production of a fighter powered by two jet engines. The new design was called the He-280 and Heinkel's main aim was to build an aircraft propelled by two jets which would reach speeds surpassing those of the conventional piston-engine machines.
Of all-metal construction, the new mid-wing design was to feature twin fins and rudders with the turbojets mounted below the wings. Two totally new innovations were the introduction of a nose wheel undercarriage and an ejector seat.
Seeing that neither previously gained knowledge about the operation of twin-engine jet aircraft nor the planned engines were available, flight testing of the completed air frame began a glider trials. The first flight of the He-280 in the pure glider configuration was made on September 11, 1939. This was followed on September 20th by the first flight with dummy engines fitted. The real maiden flight of the Heinkel He-280 as a jet fighter was further delayed until March 30, 1941, due to hold ups in the production of the He S-08 engines.
The German Ministry of Aviation placed an order for a pre-production batch of aircraft after their delegation had been suitably convinced of the new fighter's outstanding performance during a demonstration display. This order was followed by one for 300 production aircraft, which however was cancelled in favor of the series production of the superior Me-262.
The testing of alternative power units was planned owing to delays in the development of the He S-08, preventing its availability at the time of intended production.
CONSTRUCTION DIFFERENCES:
He-280 "V1" - Glider, 4 x AS 014 (DL+AB)
He-280 "V2" - Heinkel He S-8A, Jumo 004 (GJ+CA)
He-280 "V3" - Heinkel He S-8A (GJ+CB)
He-280 "V4" - BMW 003, Jumo 004
He-280 "V5" - Heinkel He S-8A, BMW 003
He-280 "V6" - BMW 003
He-280 "V7" - Glider
He-280 "V8" - Jumo 004
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
Fuselage: All-metal monocoque of oval cross-section, Cannon mounted in nose. 650 ltr. tank installed behind pilot's seat. Main wheels located below tanks following retraction.
Main plane: Cantilever all-metal single spar wing. Leading edges straight. Trailing edges elliptical. Flaps divided to extend on each side of the tailpipes. Ailerons, trim and landing flaps all made of duralumium sheet.
Tail assembly: High-set cantilever tail plane made of duralumium. Tempered twin fin and rudder units with rounded edges attached to the ends of the horizontal tail plane.
Undercarriage: robust hydraulically-operated retractable tricycle undercarriage. Nose wheel retracts rearwards into nose, main wheels inwards. Main wheel oleo retracted flat into the wing, whereas the main wheels turned 90 degrees during retraction and entered the fuselage vertically.
Engines: Refer to construction differences above.
Armament: Three fixed 20 mm MG 151/20's mounted in the nose.
Fuselage: All-metal monocoque of oval cross-section, Cannon mounted in nose. 650 ltr. tank installed behind pilot's seat. Main wheels located below tanks following retraction.
Main plane: Cantilever all-metal single spar wing. Leading edges straight. Trailing edges elliptical. Flaps divided to extend on each side of the tailpipes. Ailerons, trim and landing flaps all made of duralumium sheet.
Tail assembly: High-set cantilever tail plane made of duralumium. Tempered twin fin and rudder units with rounded edges attached to the ends of the horizontal tail plane.
Undercarriage: robust hydraulically-operated retractable tricycle undercarriage. Nose wheel retracts rearwards into nose, main wheels inwards. Main wheel oleo retracted flat into the wing, whereas the main wheels turned 90 degrees during retraction and entered the fuselage vertically.
Engines: Refer to construction differences above.
Armament: Three fixed 20 mm MG 151/20's mounted in the nose.
THE KIT:
Huma was a model company based in Germany that went out of business. Their forte was prototypical aircraft kits in 1/72nd that had not been previously made by any other model company.
This kit came in a cello bag that had the instructions folded over the opening and stapled to the bag holding it shut.
Huma was a model company based in Germany that went out of business. Their forte was prototypical aircraft kits in 1/72nd that had not been previously made by any other model company.
This kit came in a cello bag that had the instructions folded over the opening and stapled to the bag holding it shut.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG:
The bag holds 2 chalk-white trees of parts, a clear canopy part, decal sheet, the instructions and a subscription blank to subscribe to AIR FORCES magazine.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 has a black and white photo at the top of the He-280 flying head on into camera range. Below this is the history of the He-280 in German.
Page 2 and the top of page 3 have five 2-views for marking options:
V-1 (DL+AS) un-engined glider
V-2 (D-IXEM)
V-1 (DL+AS) 4 x 014 engines
V-4 no fuselage code. 2 x Jumo 004 engines
V-1 (GJ+CB) 2 x S-8A engines
The aircraft is always overall grey.
The swastika on the tails of these illustrations is done as a square to keep the kit politically correct in Germany and elsewhere that it was sold. However, the decal sheet has the proper swastika on it along with the dashboard instruments and fuselage codes. A frosted sheet is provided to protect the decal face from scratching. However, this sheet was floating around loose and not protecting a darn thing. So, I stapled it to the decal sheet.
There are 4 exploded drawings for assembly purposes spread across the bottom of page 3 and the left side of page 4. The right side of page 4 has the parts trees illustrations.
Part trees are not alphabetized and don't have any part number tabs next to the parts.
Page 5 has a 3-view line drawing of the He-280 with no engines.
Page 6 has the history of the He-280 in French and English.
The 1st chalk-white tree holds: the engine Hellenes halves, jet engine halves etc. (28 parts)
The bag holds 2 chalk-white trees of parts, a clear canopy part, decal sheet, the instructions and a subscription blank to subscribe to AIR FORCES magazine.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 has a black and white photo at the top of the He-280 flying head on into camera range. Below this is the history of the He-280 in German.
Page 2 and the top of page 3 have five 2-views for marking options:
V-1 (DL+AS) un-engined glider
V-2 (D-IXEM)
V-1 (DL+AS) 4 x 014 engines
V-4 no fuselage code. 2 x Jumo 004 engines
V-1 (GJ+CB) 2 x S-8A engines
The aircraft is always overall grey.
The swastika on the tails of these illustrations is done as a square to keep the kit politically correct in Germany and elsewhere that it was sold. However, the decal sheet has the proper swastika on it along with the dashboard instruments and fuselage codes. A frosted sheet is provided to protect the decal face from scratching. However, this sheet was floating around loose and not protecting a darn thing. So, I stapled it to the decal sheet.
There are 4 exploded drawings for assembly purposes spread across the bottom of page 3 and the left side of page 4. The right side of page 4 has the parts trees illustrations.
Part trees are not alphabetized and don't have any part number tabs next to the parts.
Page 5 has a 3-view line drawing of the He-280 with no engines.
Page 6 has the history of the He-280 in French and English.
The 1st chalk-white tree holds: the engine Hellenes halves, jet engine halves etc. (28 parts)
The 2nd chalk-white tree holds: the fuselage halves, wing halves, elevators, dual rudders, pilot, seat, cockpit floor, main wheels and legs, dashboard, nose wheel and leg etc. (23 parts)
The 2nd chalk-white tree holds: the fuselage halves, wing halves, elevators, dual rudders, pilot, seat, cockpit floor, main wheels and legs, dashboard, nose wheel and leg etc. (23 parts)
The clear part is the lone cockpit canopy.
The decal sheet, instructions and the subscription blank complete the bag's contents.
This is a neat prototypical German fighter aircraft. It will appeal to the 1946 "What IF" group of modelers.
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