Messerschmitt P.1103

Brengun, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

Eduard's 1/72 Avia B.534 IV serie Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com

The Messerschmitt Me P.1103 was designed in 1944 (along with the FW "Volksjäger", Ju EF 126 &127 and the Bacham Ba 349 "Natter") to be a rocket-powered short-range interceptor.

Construction was kept simple on the Me P.1103, being mainly built of wood. The wings were shoulder mounted and faired into the rear of the canopy.

The Me P.1103 was to be towed into the air by either a Bf 109 G or Me 262, where it would then ignite its single Walter liquid-fueled RI 202 rocket engine.

The pilot flew in a seated position and armament consisted of a single MK 108 30mm cannon, mounted below the pilot. 

After the attack, the Me P.1103 was landed on a retractable skid.

All design work ceased when the Ba 349 was awarded a development contract.                 

Specifcations:

• Span: 5.38 m (17' 9")

• Length: 5 m (16' 5") 

• Max. Speed: 700 km/h (435 mph) 

• Armament: 1 x MK 108 30mm cannon

• Powerplant: 1 x Walter liquid-fueled RI 202 rocket engine

Historical background and specifications sourced from the Luft '46 website.

Brengun has already released a 1/48 scale rendition of this 1944 ‘paper project’ “Volksjager” and continue to delight modellers of this genre with kits of some of the bizarre late-war Luftwaffe fighter projects.

This rocket-propelled aeroplane was designed to be hauled off the ground by either a Bf109 or Me262 and then to ignite its rocket motor to zoom up to the enemy whereupon it could use its 30mm cannon to some effect.

The kit comes in the usual Brengun flimsy end-opening box with a colour CAD drawing on top and colour drawings of the three ‘whatif’ schemes on the bottom, provided on the decal sheet.

The single dark grey sprue holds 21 greay plastic parts.

There is a also a small clear injection moulded part on its own sprue. 

Parts are sharply moulded with fine surface detail and small gates that will clean up easily. No flash is evident on the review sample. Interior structure is moulded inside the fuselage halves and the cockpit consists of floor, seat, fuel tank, bulkheads and an instrument panel as well as the cannon poking through the nose and mounted between the pilot’s legs (!).

No seat-belts or other PE is provided. The undercarriage skid can be modelled either for take-off or ground handling. A four-part handling trolley is provided.

Decals are well printed on a 50x60mm sheet and provide for three imaginary and attractive schemes. The swastikas are split as is common practice. Colours are given in RLM format but no interior colours or manufacturers are named.

This should be a quick and easy build, definitely a weekend job!

Brengun's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt P.1103 is a really nice little kit. You can let your imagination run wild with the possibilities for camouflage and markings too!

Thanks to Brengun for the review sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2019 by Graham Carter
Page Created 16 January, 2020
Last updated 16 January, 2020

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