In Box Review of Italeri 1/72nd Scale
Messerschmitt ME-210 A1 Fighter/Bomber
Kit no. 077
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
Out of production
I paid $11.67 for my kit back in the 90’s when it was marked down from $14.00 at the Toy Fair store at the local mall, that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
Out of production
I paid $11.67 for my kit back in the 90’s when it was marked down from $14.00 at the Toy Fair store at the local mall, that went out of business.
HISTORY:
Towards the end of the thirties, this impressive twin-engine plane was developed by the German aviation industry. It was the basic idea to support and later substitute the heavy fighter Bf-110 (Italeri Kit No. 049).
The ME-210 frequently had problems when landing, causing a lot of serious accidents. The plane was also under-powered which led to many shortcomings. These defects limited the life span of this aircraft considerably. Despite a series of modifications (which culminated in its successor, the ME-410) the plane terminated service as a reconnaissance plane, but well before the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 12,48m (41 ft.)
Wing span:16,36m (over 53 ½ ft.)
Height: 4,28m (14 ft)
Max speed: 507 km/h
Range: 1200 km
Armament: 2 x 20mm guns, 7.9mm machine guns, 2 x 13mm machine guns, 1000 kg bombs
Towards the end of the thirties, this impressive twin-engine plane was developed by the German aviation industry. It was the basic idea to support and later substitute the heavy fighter Bf-110 (Italeri Kit No. 049).
The ME-210 frequently had problems when landing, causing a lot of serious accidents. The plane was also under-powered which led to many shortcomings. These defects limited the life span of this aircraft considerably. Despite a series of modifications (which culminated in its successor, the ME-410) the plane terminated service as a reconnaissance plane, but well before the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 12,48m (41 ft.)
Wing span:16,36m (over 53 ½ ft.)
Height: 4,28m (14 ft)
Max speed: 507 km/h
Range: 1200 km
Armament: 2 x 20mm guns, 7.9mm machine guns, 2 x 13mm machine guns, 1000 kg bombs
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a ME-210A-1 flying above the clouds.
It is in a splinter camouflage pattern above the wings, on its spine and above the elevators, in green and medium-gray, with a light-blue undercarriage. It has white spinners. Its fuselage code is black letters BN white skeletal German cross and black CO.
This box art and marking instructions and the decal sheet do not show the swastika that should be on the aircraft’s rudder. This is to make the kit presentable in countries where it is sold that have outlawed showing this insignia. The sheet is also miss-marked by saying it is for a Me-201.
One side-panel of the box shows 7 one-paragraph histories of the ME-210 in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Nederlands and Swedish.
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a ME-210A-1 flying above the clouds.
It is in a splinter camouflage pattern above the wings, on its spine and above the elevators, in green and medium-gray, with a light-blue undercarriage. It has white spinners. Its fuselage code is black letters BN white skeletal German cross and black CO.
This box art and marking instructions and the decal sheet do not show the swastika that should be on the aircraft’s rudder. This is to make the kit presentable in countries where it is sold that have outlawed showing this insignia. The sheet is also miss-marked by saying it is for a Me-201.
One side-panel of the box shows 7 one-paragraph histories of the ME-210 in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Nederlands and Swedish.
The other side-panel of the box continues with the paragraphs in Finish, Portuguese, Polish, Japanese and Chinese.
Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
These are followed by: Kit is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English.
These are followed by: Kit is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 light-gray trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag.
I have added an Eduard brand brass PE set to this kit.
This kit holds 2 light-gray trees, a clear tree and the decal sheet in a sealed clear cello bag.
I have added an Eduard brand brass PE set to this kit.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7” x 9” page format.
Page one begins with the history and specifications of the ME-210 in 10 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit in 11 languages, including English, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 has a suggested paint color listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints at the top.
The bottom of page 3 through to page 8 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 8 has the decal application instruction in 9 languages, including English.
Page 9 is a painting and marking guide. It shows two 4-views of the ME-210.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows the aircraft has white skeletal German crosses above its wings and black ones with white borders under the wings.
It was with ZG-2.
The second 4-view is in the same camouflage pattern as the box art. It has white and red spinners. Its fusel code is black 2N skeletal white German cross yellow A and Black T.
It was with ZG-8.
Page 10 has IMPORTANT INFORMATION about the kit in 20 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: fuselage halves, bomb mounts, propellers, bombs, spinners, sidewall machine guns, main wheels, landing grear struts, tail wheel, seats, dashboard, floor etc. (64 parts)
Page one begins with the history and specifications of the ME-210 in 10 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS about the kit in 11 languages, including English, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 has a suggested paint color listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints at the top.
The bottom of page 3 through to page 8 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 8 has the decal application instruction in 9 languages, including English.
Page 9 is a painting and marking guide. It shows two 4-views of the ME-210.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows the aircraft has white skeletal German crosses above its wings and black ones with white borders under the wings.
It was with ZG-2.
The second 4-view is in the same camouflage pattern as the box art. It has white and red spinners. Its fusel code is black 2N skeletal white German cross yellow A and Black T.
It was with ZG-8.
Page 10 has IMPORTANT INFORMATION about the kit in 20 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: fuselage halves, bomb mounts, propellers, bombs, spinners, sidewall machine guns, main wheels, landing grear struts, tail wheel, seats, dashboard, floor etc. (64 parts)
Light-gray letter B tree holds: engine cowlings, upper and lower wing halves, elevators etc. (20 parts)
Clear letter C tree holds the canopies (5 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents. As already said it is missing swastikas.
The Eduard Brand Brass PE fret is in a stapled shut clear cello envelope with a stiff card that prevents it being bent. It holds the antenna array.
There are now crew figures included.
Detail is great and the engraved variety. Wing, rudder and elevator flaps are molded solid.
Highly recommended.
Detail is great and the engraved variety. Wing, rudder and elevator flaps are molded solid.
Highly recommended.