review Valiant Wings Publishing Airframe Album 13: The Heinkel He 162

[LSP_Kevin]

Howdy folks,

 

I've just published my review of the latest title from Valiant Wings:

 

Valiant Wings Publishing Airframe Album 13: The Heinkel He 162

 

 

Enjoy!

 

And thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the review sample.

 

Kev

[Troy Molitor]

Thank you for your review Kev.

 

I picked this title up a few weeks ago. I certainly agree with your comments. A well balanced book aimed for the modeler in mind.

A couple comments in the book certainly stand out.

 

There were three manufactures of the He-162 will all having distinct camoflage patterns between themselves. The book IMHO should have mentioned the recent He-162 restoration for the Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace in Le Bourget. The upper wing on the French example was actually discovered to be painted in RLM 70 black green, with the lower surface in RLM 65. This was also mentioned to be on the “ white 23†held by NASM. The common reference always suggests RLM 82 and RLM 81 was standard and it wasn't!

 

The preproduction variants mention in the Valliant book also call out the He 162 M19 (A-02). Actually had the “V†tail installed and few for a few months before crashing. The main wing was later used on the build for M23.

 

The book also mentions a fascinating discovery on the late war Heinkel production W/Nr. 120076 to 120230 block with the upper wing in a splinter pattern in RLM 81/82. I find this really fascinating. The aircraft looks great with this pattern. I first read about this in Peter Muller's book titled; Heinkel He 162 Volksjager (Last-Ditch Effort by the Luftwaffe). Another fantastic book on the subject aircraft. Appearently “White 20†taken to England after its captured in Leck had this upper pattern applied. I would love to discover an upper surface picture with this splintered camoflage.

 

Last comment. The 1:48 build at the end of the Valliant book built by Steve Evans. His comment and I quote: Straight off the bat I have to tell you that this little fighter has never been one of my favorites. I always preferred the shark like Me 262. I hope Steve accidentally bit his own tongue when he wrote that line! Lol. Why write that? Hilarious.

 

Thanks Kev. Awesome reference book for everyone interested in the awesome little He 162.

 

Regards,

 

Troy

[LSP_Ray]

Nice review, Kev! And interesting info, Tony. I, too, would love to see that splinter pattern.