Military Model Scene

Title:  Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe

Author: Dariusz Karnas and Artur Juszczak

Publisher:  MMP

ISBN:  978-83-65958-63-1

​

We get to number 6 in this series of 'Single' books from MMP Books.  This time the subject is one of my own favourites, the single seat Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe, the 'Swallow'. The Me 262 came in too small numbers and too late in the war to have a real impact in Allied air superiority. It had suffered from delays while Hitler demanded it be configured as a fighter bomber, while airmen such as Adol Galland fought for it to be left with clean lines, as a pure fighter. Production was delayed by allied bombing and a lack of new pilots for them. They did have some limited success but the unreliability of the engines let it down.

The 24-page softcover book starts off with 6 pages of scale drawings, showing the airframe in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales, all created by Dariusz Karnas. That is followed by 12 pages with a mix of archive photos along with more showing detail from preserved examples and a number detail illustrations from the original manuals, and all of which give extra elements of detail, including the Jumo 004 engines, That is rounded off with another 3 pages with colour photos of the cockpits of preserved aircraft, including a colour artwork image of the main instrument panel. The book is then rounded off with 3 pages of fine colour artwork from Artur Juszczak, illustrating Me 262 A-1a, 'White 1', of Erprobungskommando 262 at Lechfeld in June/July 1944, camouflaged in a typical RLM 74/75/76 camouflage scheme.

There are some excellent kits of the Me 262 available on the market these days, in a variety of scales, and modellers will I am certain enjoy having this useful reference on hand.

​

Thanks to MMP Books, who kindly provided my review copy.

​

Robin