Armour Metal Collection ~~~RARE PROTOTYPE~~~ Messerschmitt Me-262A Kriegsmarine Prototype "White 24" Deutsche Marine S/JG1 "Poul" Nightfighter Photos are of the exact model you are buying. Condition: Plane is Mint in the Box. Box is near mint. Wingspan: 10.25 inches ~ Length: 8.75 inches Scale: 1:48 Armour Model # 98156(Same as Franklin Mint B11B303) The History behind the Plane Although the Me-262 was over 100 mph faster than the American P-51 Mustang, by the time it entered service in 1944 it was already too late to make a difference in the outcome of the war. Of the 1,400 Me-262s that were produced, less than 300 ever saw combat. The rest were destroyed in Allied bombing attacks, or remained grounded because of a lack of parts, fuel, or qualified pilots. The Me-262 Sturmvogel was so fast that new tactics had to be devised to attack American bombers. In the head-on attack, the closing speed, of about 350 metres per second, was too high for accurate shooting. Even from astern, the closing speed was too great for the short-ranged 30mm cannon to be used to maximum effect. Therefore, a roller-coaster attack was devised. The 262s approached from astern and about 6,000 ft higher than the bombers. From about 3 miles behind, they went into a shallow dive thattook them through the escort fighters with little risk of interception. When they were about 1 mile astern and 1,500 feet below the bombers, they pulled up sharply to red uce their excess speed. On leveling off, they were 1,000 yd astern and overtaking the bombers at about 100 mph, well placed to attack them. Since 30mm cannon were not accurate above 650 yards, and since it was necessary to break off at 200 yards to avoid colliding with the target, Me-262 pilots would normally commence firing at 550 yards. Allied bomber gunners found their electric gun turrets had problems tracking the jets. Target acquisition was difficult because the jets closed into firing range quickly and remained in firing position only briefly, using their standard attack profile which proved to be more effective.
