Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
A unique rocket-powered fighter of the JG400 series
The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was the first and only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft of World War II. In this article I present the construction of the Meng kit, in 1/32 scale, which represents a Me 163 of the JG400 series.
The HWK 109-509 A-2 engine
The heart of the model is the impressive HWK 109-509 A-2 liquid-fuel rocket engine, with an output of up to 1,700 kg of thrust. This engine could propel the Komet to speeds exceeding 900 km/h. The engine was placed in the fuel tank and integrated into the main fuselage, with additional details in the hydraulic lines reproduced with thin lead wire.
Although once in place, the back of the turbine is no longer visible, it is worth the attention it received!
T-Stoff fuel tanks and firewalls
The large 1,040-liter T-Stoff tank supplied the engine with the required oxidizer. The firewalls at the ends of the tank – painted in the characteristic dark orange Flieglack 7142/7130, a fire-resistant lacquer paint – add a realistic touch to the interior of the fuselage.
The tank with firewalls and engine were carefully assembled before final installation, so that all elements fit precisely.
The cockpit and additional details
The cockpit “bathtub” was completed with details such as additional straps, embossed surfaces and reinforcement of the 60 liter T-Stoff tanks located on the side. The cockpit was completed with great attention to detail, although the instrument panel was added later.
Painting and aging
After the main assembly, the joints were filled, sprayed with RLM 02 to control the surface and painted the nose with yellow. The variation was done with RLM 76, 81 and 83. After the stickers were applied, the panel lines and rivet heads were subtly aged with a very diluted mixture of black and brown. I completed the result with careful general linework.
The main wheel and landing gear
The painted and weathered landing gear was adjusted to sit in the correct position – about halfway between fully extended and fully retracted. A major drawback was the heavily etched tread of the soft vinyl tires. Since there were no aftermarket replacements available, I edited the original photos in Photoshop to “smooth” the surface and give it a more realistic look.
It’s a small “trick”, but it greatly improves the aesthetic of the final result.
Wooden landing gear
Finally, I added etched details to the wooden landing gear, for an even more realistic look.
I hope this article highlights both the Me 163 Komet itself and the attention to detail that goes into building such a special build by Chris Wauchop .
Source :https://chriswauchop.com/tag/chris-wauchop-models/
Feel free to leave your comments in the GModel Art forum!
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