Hobby Boss Aircraft 1/48 Me-262A-1A/U4 Kit

The Me-262A-1a/U4 was the result of an armaments conference of 9 February 1944 that recommended installing a large calibre weapon in the new jet. Both a long range, but slow firing 50mm Mk 214 and a shorter range but faster firing 55mm Mk 112 gun was proposed. Development crawled along.

In January of 1945, Hitler and Goering held a meeting to discuss air armament. It was decided to fit the 50mm Mk 214 gun to the two aircraft. In mid February of 1945 the go-ahead was given and work was quickly undertaken in early March. Me-262A-1a, serial number 111899 was the first prototype. Messerschmitt's test pilot made 19 flights in this plane, firing many rounds at the ground and into the air during these flights. The plane was then turned over to JV-44 where it was flown by night fighter ace Major Wilhelm Herget. It was flown in two operational missions against US bomber formations on 16 April. On both occasions, the gun jammed.

The second prototype, 170083, the subject of this kit, was fitted with the gun in April of 1945. It is doubtful if the aircraft was actually flown with this gun before it was captured by US troops at Lechfeld in May of 1945. This aircraft was taken over by Watson's Wizzers before eventually being turned over to the French. The aircraft was destroyed in a crash soon after.