Messerschmitt Me262: WARPAINT#93 softcover
Messerschmitt Me262: WARPAINT#93 softcover
It seems strange that the aircraft we recognise today as the Messerschmitt Me 262 nearly did not happen. Fortunately a need to change the selected engine and reconfigure the aircraft to maintain a viable centre of gravity created that unique shape. Having undergone a tortuous trial period the Me 262 would enter service with fighter units: its intended task being to shoot down as many of the aircraft in the USAAF bomber streams as possible. Unfortunately for the Luftwaffe Adolf Hitler decided to intervene and insisted that the Me 262 become a bomber - a wonder weapon. With airframes being diverted away from pure fighter duties the types impact in defending Germany was lessened. Other versions were mooted the most successful of which was the two seat night fighter that soon sprouted a forest of radar aerials on the nose. Further trials would see attempts to make the Me 262 more valuable in the ground attack role. To that end various heavy cannon were mounted in the nose to varying degrees of success while a visual bomber version with a revamped nose section complete with plexiglass nose was also tested. Reconnaissance was also another role that the Me 262 was configured for and to a certain degree it was successful. However, many of these efforts were symptomatic of a regime falling apart under great allied pressure and never came to full fruition. At the end of hostilities many intact examples were despatched to Britain and America where the survivors languish in museums. The Me 262 story is not quite over as modern flying examples with more reliable engines have since taken to the skies. This volume is fully illustrated and includes scale drawings and artwork by Richard J Caruana.
40 pages, black & white and colour photographs, 36 colour profiles, 1:72 scale line drawing plans, production and unit lists, model kit decal and accessory list, softcover, A4 Format, 21 cm (8 1/4”) x 29.7 cm (11 3/4 “)
Warpaint Series
Designed with both the aircraft enthusiast and the model maker in mind, the publishers of the Warpaint series try to establish as near as possible a comprehensive and accurate account of a single aircraft type within one set of covers. Each book sets standards in the quality of the history and the accuracy of the drawings both in colour, side and plan view and the 1:72nd scale plans that appear in each one.
Aircraft titles range from World War 2 to the post war period, and include a majority of RAF and Fleet Air Arm aircraft but also feature many USAAF, USAF, US Navy and Luftwaffe machines. Variety is the keyword in the attempt to satisfy as many specialist interest groups as possible during the year. Few contemporary aircraft are featured as an attempt is made to write and illustrate the definitive history of the aircraft involved, although it is appreciated that in some cases there might be a few still flying in non-operational roles.
The publishers employ authors who have established reputations in aircraft historical journalism where their own notes and files can produce facts and data that may, in many cases, not have been published hitherto. Artists used for the illustrations are also well-established in their field and very knowledgeable on camouflage colours and the use of computer generated art work which adds so much to the completeness of the finished book.
Warpaint books on aircraft set the standards that others would like to follow...
-Complete and detailed history
-1:72nd scale plan line drawings
-In detail photographs
-Kit, decal and accessory list
-Pages of superb colour profiles, black & white and colour photography
-Complete production list
-Squadrons, units and individual aircraft serials and codes
-Comprehensive specifications
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