ANT-52
Messerschmitt Me 262 V-3 prototype, PC+UC, 1/48 scale kit
Product Description
| At 08.40 on 18 July 1942, Messerschmitt’s test pilot Fritz Wendel lifted the Messerschmitt Me 262 V-3 off the runway at Leipheim, completing a 12 minute trouble free flight. This was the first flight made by the Me 262 without piston-engine assistance. This prototype, coded PC+UC was quite different from the V-1: the Jumo 210 G in-line piston engine was removed, and a new nose, aerodynamically clean, was fitted on the aircraft. There was not armament fitted on the nose at that time, despite it was considered the installation of 3 X MG 151 20 mm. cannon, based on P1065 Project. The tail section was revised and the new Jumo 004 A-0 (T1) jet engines replaced the BMW P.3302 used on the V-1 prototype (stage II). The T-1 engine had a different shape of the Jumo 004 B (T2) used in the Me 262 production fighters, and the thrust of 600 Kgs. was achieved after several problems of development. After six successful flights, the aircraft crashed and was badly damaged on 11 August 1942. It was rebuilt to resume flight testing on March 1943. On 12 September it was finally written off after an Allied air raid attack on Lechfeld. At the time of its first flight the V-3 carried the standard fighter camouflage for the period of overall RLM 76 Blue Grey with RLM 74 Dark Grey and RLM 75 Medium Grey having applied over the top on the upper surfaces, with mottling of RLM 02 Grey on the fuselage sides. The upper part of the nose finished in RLM 70 Black Green giving the appearance of a false spinner. |
