1/32 Me 163 B "Komet" Hasegawa

[stona]

I'd better post something to show I'm off and running.

The cockpit is rudimentary but done. The pilot, who will hide the sparse cockpit, is in a basic coat of what I guess the synthetic protective suit might have looked like. He will need a lot more work (obviously).



Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I've got a first coat on the pilot. Remember I work with enamels so I won't be able to touch him up (ooooerrr) and wash and dry brush him until tomorrow.

He's recycled from somewhere but I reckon, once in place, with a harness, he'll do a reasonable impression of a rocket pilot with protective suit.



Cheers

Steve

[papa 695]

He's looking very dapper Steve, I don't think he will look out of place at all

[stona]

One of my pet hates!

Sprue attachments that look like this one.



There are loads of them and they all have to be reduced to something like this without b*ggering up the joining surfaces.



And yes, there is quite a bit of flash on the parts. I guess it's an old mould that's seen better days!

Cheers

Steve

[flyjoe180]

Nice progress Steve, your pilot is looking good.

[stona]

I've already completed the major construction, though there is a little fettling to do. The kit goes together quite nicely.

What an amazing aeroplane it is.



I need to get the nose cone on and mask up the canopy after which I'll contemplate some painting.

A little history lesson, please fell free to skip this bit!

This incredible shape was designed by Alexander Lippisch one of Germany's most brilliant aerodynamicists. He cut his teeth testing his designs with sailplanes at the "Wasserkuppe" in the late twenties and early thirties. He had some very able assistants at his Ursinus House design office. To name a few, Hans Jacobs, Willy Hubert, Heinrich Voepel and test pilots Gunter Groenhoff and Peter Reidel, the latter a name well know even today in gliding circles. Also working on the delta wing was a certain Canadian called Beverly Shenstone who would later move to Vickers Supermarine where he designed the wing for the Spitfire.

Lippisch also invented a method for vertical take off and pioneered the canard or fore wing. His early ones, designed with Shenstone, were elliptical.

Lippisch moved to the USA after the war (Paperclip). Here he is, unfortunately there is a whiff of the mad scientist/ Dr Strangelove about him in this film. He and Shenstone, despite being on opposite sides during the war, remained lifelong friends.

Cheers

Steve

[flyjoe180]

Super work Steve, and the background information is very interesting, cheers. The Germans were certainly ahead in the field of swept wings and rockets. Boeing later used German swept wing technology in the development of their subsonic passenger jets from the 707 onward. The basic sweep angle has changed little particularly on the 737 series.

[stona]

Built, primed, rubbed down.



I've just noticed I've pushed the flippin' side window in with the rough handling! Aren't photos great!

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

More progress.

First gloss coat applied, though it doesn't look like it!



Cheers

Steve

[flyjoe180]

Coming along nicely Steve.

[stona]

I'm calling this done.

We have an invasion of little people at the moment so I can't really take proper photos. Here's a couple of snapshots. I'll add some decent ones when I get a chance.





It might be old but it's a nice little kit and not too taxing.

All the paints are White Ensign Colourcoats and the final varnish is Vallejo, I get on well with both these. Colourcoats are, in my humble opinion, the best enamels out there for spraying and come in authentic WW2 colours. I've gone for an RLM 81/82 splinter over RLM 76 which is as likely as anything else. All sprayed free hand. This camouflage was applied at "Ekdo 16", not the point of production, and it doesn't look to have been masked at all, hence the soft demarcations.

Cheers

Steve

[Vaughan]

Wow that was quick Steve I'm still working on the undercarriage wells so a long way to go yet. A great paint job and finish. The snapshots do it justice.

[Dave W]

A super quick build Steve.Looks great.Excellent paint finish.

[papa 695]

It may have been a quick build Steve but well worth 5 stars great work as per-usual

[flyjoe180]

Fantastic work Steve.