Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/48 Me-262 Cross-Dressing Stormbirds decal sheet

Product # CED48273 for $9.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Feb 7 2005

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for 4 different 1/48 Me-262's in captured markings (US and RAF). 

The first Me-262 A-1a W.Nr.501232 is a single seater in USAAF markings.  This was one of the jets rounded up by Watson's Whizzers which was a special group that scoured Germany looking for cutting edge technology to ship back to the US for evaluation.  The paint scheme on this Me-262 is a Brown/Green/Green (RLM 81/82/83 with a yellow #5 (over-painted in light green) on the rear fuselage (included as yellow decals that you must over-paint with green) and light blue RLM76 on the underside.  Most of the original markings were over-painted on this Me-262...but the painting was sprayed and has a somewhat translucent look to it as you can see the original markings underneath.  Colours used for over-spraying the original markings as well as painting the US markings were probably Luftwaffe RLM colours found at the airfields when these jets were captured.  The nose is red (RLM23?) with with small artwork and white text on the nose that reads "Screamin Meenie".  This is how this jet looked in it's late paint scheme after being transferred to Watson's Whizzers.  The nose cannons ports are taped over and decals are provided for this tape.  There is a red and black checkerboard band around the rear fuselage that is mostly painted over.  This band is supplied as a decal.

The second Me-262B-1a W.Nr.110165 is a two seater in RAF markings.  This jet is in basically the original colours with RAF national markings covering the Luftwaffe markings.  This jet was captured by the British at Schleswig-Jagel.  The paint scheme is green on top and light blue RLM76 fuselage sides and bottom with green mottling on the side of the fuselage.

The third Me-262 A-1a W.Nr.501232 is a single seater in USAAF markings.  This the same jet as the first jet on this sheet, but by this point the nose cannon ports were faired over and the paint scheme appears very much cleaned up with white text on the nose reading "Girry H".  The paint scheme is green on top and the sides of the fuselage with light blue RLM76 on the underside with green mottling on the side of the fuselage.  The windscreen has a red frame.  There is a red and black checkerboard band around the rear fuselage that is mostly painted over.  This band is supplied as a decal and there is also a green fuselage band present. 

The fourth Me-262 A-1a W.Nr.501232 is a single seater in USAAF markings.  This is also the same jet as the first jet on this decal sheet.  This paint scheme is the early paint scheme at Munchen-Riem prior to it's transfer to Lechfeld.  The nose cannon ports are open and the paint scheme is green/brown with all German markings showing except where the US markings are painted.  There is a red and black checkerboard band around the rear fuselage.

The decals were flawlessly printed and in perfect registration and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas. 

The instructions are clear and include 3 view colour drawings and well as 2 pages of b&w instructions including text about 3 of these planes. 

A very nice decal sheet and highly recommended for anyone with a passion for this Luftwaffe jet.

I would like to thank Cutting Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford