MENG Me163B 'KOMET' 1/32

[rodrant]

I build this kit some days ago , and just finish it yesterday

It represents the ME163B V-41 , piloted by Major Wolfgang Spate on 13th May 1944 ,You will notice it's Red color , very different than the camo color scheme from the Luftwaffe in WW2

This was the first combat flight of this not very successful fighter , powered by a Rocket engine , very fast in climbing and to intercept the massive allied bombings that were doing very much damage in Germany !

The color 'Red-Tomato' was painted by the groud crew culminating two years of hard work in putting the fighter on air ! Spate seeing it rumbled something that Von Richtofen's achieved some victories before it's famous Triplane plane was painted all red , not spate on his first sortie . Actually this technology wonder at the time was just another diversion in Germany War effort and didn't achieved success . Maybe some fear in Allied Bomber crews that saw it the first time I can imagine ,

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 5.98 m (19 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 9.33 m (30 ft 7 in)
Height: 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 18.5 m² (200 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,905 kg (4,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,950 kg (8,710 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,310 kg (9,500 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Walter HWK 109-509A-2 liquid-fuel rocket, 17 kN (3,800 lbf)
Performance

Maximum speed: 959 km/h (596 mph)
Range: 40 km (25 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,100 m (39,700 ft)
Rate of climb: 50 metres per second (9,800 ft/min) at 1000 meters; 160 metres per second (31,000 ft/min) at 12000m.[56] ()
Wing loading: 213 kg/m² (43 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.42
Armament

Guns: 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannons (60 rpg)

About the Kit , it is very well detailed , you have a lot of options to represent the plane , even you can depict it showing the Engine , but in my case not went very well and the fit is really for the expert modeller , also too many plastic and small pieces, not criticising as some of the guys around in the forum could do just a great build , even with some mistakes that I make , in the end it makes a terrific add to my collection of models , this color scheme is impressive , and the plane itself is very beautiful , I leave the ammo bay and a gun bay open , and is just nice to see all the details ! I say Buy it andbuild one of these , MENG models are great in my opinion , really need work and patience to get them done, but great results in the end !

Some Photos now (about time ...)

[Avgas]

Don't knock yourself out Antonio, that looks fantastic!

[Willem]

Very cool mate.

[jbellos1]

Very nice Antonio - I built the Hasegawa kit a long time ago - early 90's - and when this came out, I put it on the wishlist immediately.

Yours is masterfully done in that red scheme - very nice and I bet it shocked a few bomber crews in its day.

Great job!

[Dopplershift]

Very striking.

Lovely build.

[Pabbi]

[sprebound]

Looks great!