Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Messerschmitt Me 163 S Komet Trainer -- Additional pics

Here are some more pics of the Komet taken with natural lighting.

 

The elevons, flaps, landing flaps, rudder and tail wheel were all deflected to lend more dynamism to the model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those were taken outside on a sunny day.

The next post will be about the build itself.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Messerschmitt Me 163 S Komet Trainer

Here is my Messerschmitt Me 163 S.

For those interested in history, here is a short rundown of what's known about the somewhat elusive training version of the Komet, the"S", based on the 163 B Komet (no need to present the latter, too much has been said already elsewhere):

The highlights:

- All in all about a dozen 163 S were produced by converting B's.

- The S never became operational and of the few flights made with it none were actual training flights.

- No engine was installed in the S, its purpose being to train pilots in the gliding phase, the trickiest. A second cockpit was installed in the space normally occupied by the engine.

- Pilots' opinions about the S as a trainer vary, from "well designed as a trainer" to "too dangerous." Per reports from two experienced pilots, the one in the instructor's seat could not land the plane without the help of the pilot in the front seat due to an obstructed field of view from the back.

- The Russians captured several samples of the 163 S, which they tested both in wind tunnels and in flight during 1946/47.

- Germans pilots nicknamed the S the "dromedary."

This is the 1/72 Academy kit, arguably the best in any scale. More details about the kit and build later.

 

It's a really small model!

 

 

Saturday, December 27, 2014

F-104 Museum Exhibit

I took these shots today at the War Museum in Athens, Greece in view of making a scale model of this very 104.



I've always wanted to make a museum aircraft and I do like the Starfighter. What's more this specimen is located just five minutes from where I live so no problem is getting plenty of reference pics. 

It should build into a nice little vignette dio and I've got the feeling it'll be lots of fun!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Blohm & Voss 194 -- Cockpit

Here are some pics of the B&V 194 cockpit. With a few scratched additions the Revell parts build into a nice little front office.








Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Blohm & Voss 194


I finished this kit in in 2012. It's the Revell in 1/72 scale. Strictly Luft 46 whatif.








Michel Cendrart's blog

This is a blog about my scale modeling activities. I'll be posting pix of my finished models, WIPs and other modeling-related stuff.