Me262B-1a/U1 Night Fighter

by Chris Beaumont

Hasegawa's 1/72 scale Me262B-1a/U1 Night Fighter is available online from Squadron.com

Me262B-1a/U1 Night Fighters were a development of the two seater jet pioneer. A few dozen of the two-seater trainers were converted to this essential role. The new jet-powered Night Fighter was equipped with FuG218 Neptune radar and FuG350 Naxos homing system - the crews' hunting night-eyes which enabled them to target enemy bombers over Germany.

Shigeo Koike's beautiful box art hypnotized me into building this kit. I was so captivated by the glamorous depiction that the first build resulted in blue moonlit-tinge to the paintwork!

After displayng the artistic version at a a few model shows I became more aware of the proper nature of the Me262B night fighter's camouflage colours . I built a second kit closer to the authentic appearance.

The opening photo presents the model being prepared for night operations. It is being towed by a Kettenkrad -another Hasegawa kit. One interesting aspect of the towing procedure was that tow bars were connected to all 3 wheels ( not shown with this image ) to balance the load. The delicate nose gear wouldn't last to long on its own !

The grey squiggles were patterned with a chalk pencil.

The radar antennae on the nose is a combination of photoetch, stiff wire, and optic fibres for the vertical aerials. The cannon flash tubes are hypodermic needle tube.

The photoetch parts i.e. cockpit detail, came from an Airwaves set.

Noteworthy is a wartime reference photo of this aircraft that shows all the cannon outlets open, not the two top ones faired over as directed by Hasegawa's instructions. Also the anti-flash tubes were not fitted.

Another oversight of my model was being unaware of how the leading edge slats are supposed to be in an open position whilst the aircraft is standing on the ground. The same applied to the Me109.

The major outside of the box reference for this model was the Japanese publication
"Model Art, No 367, Messerschmitt Me262."

On page 150 of this manual is a photo of Me262B-1a/U1 Night Fighter
"Red 10" and a color profile illustration in the front color section.

There is also another photo of this aircraft on page 59 but in British markings,
presumably after its arrival in England for examination, and display to the public
as a war trophy.