Date: 23/09/2016

A new Airfix Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe in 1/72nd scale

CAD screenshot showing the port fuselage side of the distinctive Me 262

As one of the most significant aircraft of the Second World War and certainly one of the most distinctive, the Messerschmitt Me 262 has always been a popular subject with modellers. The original 1/72nd scale version of this kit first appeared in the Airfix line-up back in 1960 and many thousands of these models have been produced since this date. It is more than likely that many Workbench readers will have enjoyed building the classic Dogfight Doubles set, featuring the Me 262 and Mosquito, which for many modellers is one of the most significant kits to appear in the Airfix range. Over recent years, modelling communities have been particularly vocal in requesting a new version of the world’s first jet fighter, which would benefit from the latest manufacturing technologies available to the Airfix team and update one of the most popular models in the history of our beloved hobby. As you will have already guessed, we are extremely pleased to be able to confirm that a new Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a is on the way and is currently scheduled to be available in early 2017.

The Airfix research team had access to the preserved Me 262 at Hendon

Taking on some of the most iconic aircraft ever to take to the skies has never been something that has phased the talented designers at Airfix, who have a highly effective system for producing accurate and highly detailed scale replica kits for us all to enjoy building. At the outset of any new tooling project, the team endeavour to obtain as much accurate research detail as they possibly can, which in the case of the Messerschmitt Me 262 included information from their own extensive library and securing excellent and highly accurate technical drawings from a respected aviation draughtsman. This information was backed up with the invaluable opportunity to closely inspect the Me 262A-2a W.Nr 112372, which is on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon. The team were able to take accurate measurements from this genuine wartime aircraft, along with a large number of photographs, detailing every aspect of the construction of this beautiful aircraft.

Perhaps the most impressive stage in how the team bring a new model project to life is the process by which they take all this research data and computerise the information, producing base model files which will be central to every aspect of the new model's development. Once they have these computerised base model files, they can use powerful software to check every aspect of its design for shape and accuracy, with even the finest detail easily accessible. Individual component parts can be developed with incredible accuracy, as the software allows everything from the entire fuselage to an undercarriage strut to be designed and inspected in impressive detail. Always conscious of the scale in which the new model will be produced, these digital files allow designers to create model components that are as accurate as current injection moulding tolerances will allow, but always challenging themselves to push these manufacturing boundaries.

A selection of CAD screenshot images from the new Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a project

From the modeller's perspective, we are always extremely keen to see images of the latest new tooling announcements from Airfix, which is another area where this impressive design software comes into its own. It can be used to produce computer rendered 3D images of the base model files and whilst this does require no small amount of skill on the part of the designer charged with completing this work, it really does bring the project to life. Whilst these magnificent images are an important step in the design process of any new model project and allow us all to see what the final model may actually look like, they are actually produced quite early in the design process and are shown in Workbench on the understanding that they may be altered before the final model is released for production. Nevertheless, this type of image is now familiar to the Airfix modeller and helps to increase our excitement levels with the announcement of a new model tooling.

This selection of beautiful computer rendered 3D images give us a tantalising glimpse of what the new model will look like

We have included a selection of computer rendered 3D images of the new Messerschmitt Me 262 tooling throughout this blog, which identify the aircraft as an Me 262 A-1a version of this highly significant warplane. At the outset of this project, the Airfix designers were determined to produce a highly accurate representation of the world’s first jet fighter, in the certain knowledge that this would be high on the future build schedule of many a modeller. From their detailed inspection of the Schwalbe on display at Hendon, they could see that many previous kits of the Me 262 on the market had failed to accurately represent the detail visible from inside the main undercarriage bays and they were determined to put this right. Of particular note are the use of service apertures in the base of the pilot’s bathtub cockpit area, which allow engineers to access the cockpit from underneath the aircraft, through the main undercarriage bay – this is the type of detail the Airfix designers were looking to incorporate within their new model.

This wireframe CAD screenshot shows the unmistakable profile of the world’s first operational jet fighter