Airframe Album No 10 - The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet - A Detailed Guide To The Luftwaffe’s Rocket-powered Interceptor by Richard A. Franks (Valiant Wings)
Valiant Wings Publishing’s most recent title in their Airframe Album series is about the Me 163 Komet Luftwaffe Rocket-powered interceptor. This series of books offers everything that modern modellers want when they are tackling a specific subject.
It includes:
• Period diagrams
• Data from flight manuals
• Data from spare parts catalogues
• Fully detailed 3D isometric views of prototype and production machines
• Full colour profiles and concise camouflage and marking notes
The tenth title in the Airframe Album series will be an essential companion for anyone tackling the Meng (1/32nd), Trimaster/Dragon (1/48th), Academy and even the older Airfix and Heller kits in 1/72nd scale.
Contents will include all the elements listed plus:
A wealth of historical photographs and detail images of the world’s preserved examples
Period detail images during production and service use
Isometric views by Wojciech Sankowski of all prototype and production airframes from DFS 194 through to Me 263/Ju 248
Colour profiles and by Richard J. Caruana
114 pages in total
Lists of all DFS 40/194, Me 163A, B, C & D plus Me 263/Ju 248 accessories and decals produced in all scales.
Kit builds of the PM DFS 194 and Special Hobby 1/72nd Me 163A by Libor Jekl and the Trimaster/Dragon 1/48th and Meng 1/32nd Me 163Bs by Steve Evans.
The introduction is a 20 pages history, development and operational analysis of the Me163 with many action photos.
This is followed by the Technical description chapter, which goes through all the parts of the aircraft: cockpit, canopy, main & aft fuselage, electrical, radio, skid & dolly, tail, wheels, wings, engine, ailerons, flaps, armament and gunsight.
Each department is very well illustrated with clear photos (many in color) and diagrams. Extremely useful if you plan to display open panels or duplicate a partial or whole cutaway in scale!
The next chapter deals with the evolution of the Komet, with many prototype, pre-production and production airframes, beautifully depicted in isometric views, showing all the differences between the various types and with explanatory notes.
This is followed by the Camouflage & Markings chapter, which features 20 excellent color profiles by R. Caruana, each one with captions analyzing the colors with RLM codes and other details about individual markings.
The four (4) kit builds in most popular scales are all very professionally made, with many step by step photos and explanatory text to guide you into the smallest detail. We particularly liked the Special Hobby 1/72 model with the tractor! And of course the Meng model by Steve Evans in 1/32 scale is equally impressive.
All in all a very comprehensive study of the Komet and certainly the only volume a modeler should need, not only to build a perfect model, but also as a useful source for better understanding of the capabilities and peculiarities of this little rocket interceptor.
Airframe Album No 10 retails at only £16.95 per copy + postage and packing.
The book is available from all good hobby stores and specialist bookshops.
ISBN is 978-0-9935345-3-9
Orders can be made also via the Valiant Wings website:
http://www.valiant-wings.co.uk/airframe-album-no10-1777-p.asp
By phone on 01234 273434 (+44 1234 273434 if calling from outside the UK) or by writing to:
Valiant Wings Publishing
8 West Grove
Bedford
MK40 4BT, UK
