Allow me to paraphrase from the kit instructions for this bit. "After the disappointment of the Me-210/410, Messerschmitt designers tried to develop a more efficient and reliable aircraft. Like the previous planes, it had to fill the roles of heavy day fighter, night fighter, ground attack aircraft and reconnaissance.

A rather high priority was given to this plane with the requirement that as many Me-410 parts be used as possible to ease construction. The majority of the airframe also had to be made of wood and other non-strategic materials. What emerged looked like a very large Me-163 with 26 degree swept back wings, no tail plane, and twin pusher engines imbedded in the wings. Engines were to be DB.603 or Jumo 213s. Armament was to be four 20mm cannon in the nose and two Mk103 30mm cannon in the wing roots. A single 20mm cannon was to be in a remote controlled tail turret. Total bomb load was to be up to 2,400 kg. A bomb bay was provided as were wing racks.

As interesting as the plane would have been, it was overcome by events. The plane got as far as a wooden mockup, but no jigs were built and that was that."

Planet Models is one of the many brand names of MPM. Can't tell it by the box or instructions as there is no address given anywhere. This means that if you have a broken or missing part, you are just out of luck! Fortunately, Planet Models kits are generally very well done. I've built several of them and have had no real problems. They are a bit more fussy than most all-resin kits in that there are a lot of small parts. This one is no exception.

The major parts are the upper and lower fuselage, fin, bomb bay doors, bomb and the wings (which are a single casting for each side).  The rest of the parts are encased in resin wafers.  Overall casting is superb. I saw no bubble or miscasts in any of the parts. Detailing is very good with the usual thin engraved lines. The lower fuselage has the wheel wells molded in place, though there is no detail in them at all. That is left up to the builder to enhance! There is no nose gear well. The nose gear cements to the underside of the cockpit floor. I've left the wafers in their protective plastic to keep all the bits together.

Usually resin landing gear can be a problem as resin is not as solid over time as is polystyrene. I've a few older kit with resin struts that have sagged quite a bit over the years. However, I also have a Planet Models kit of similar size and weight that is still standing proud on its resin gear legs after several years. Unfortunately, there is only one vac canopy. I think that two should be included in case one gets trashed. It can't cost more than a few pennies to include a second one, especially when getting a replacement is made impossible by the lack of an address.

Instructions are pretty basic and include a parts layout and history on one page, an exploded diagram of the first construction step on the second, while on the third is another diagram for the landing gear and a painting/decal guide. The fourth sheet is a list of available Planet Model kits. Decals are provided for the box art plane from JG 3 'Udet', which is in RLM 76 overall with RLM 75 upper surface mottling. Decals are well done, though most of us will cobble up something a bit more interesting!

Like many of you, I'm a real sucker for this Luft '46 stuff. I like to build it and I like to paint it. It seems as if I get on a kick for a couple of models and then go on to something a bit different. This would be a good one to start the next round!

Kit Instructions.

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