Messerschmitt Me-263 V1 1/72 Mikro mir 72-001

Messerschmitt Me-263 V1 
1/72 WWII military submarine scale plastic model kit
AMP 7201

Manufacturer: Mikro mir  (Ukraine)
Scale: 1/72
Material: Plastic
Paint: Unpainted, Unassembled, Kit do not contain paints and glue.
Condition: New in Box

The Messerschmitt Me 263 was a rocket-powered fighter aircraft developed from the Me 163 Komet towards the end of World War II. Three prototypeswere built but never flown under their own power as the rapidly deteriorating military situation in Germany prevented the completion of the test program.The Me 163 rocket interceptor had been developed from a series of experimental gliders, equipped with what was at the time a highly experimental engine. As soon as the system matured to the point of basic functionality, it was pressed into service largely unchanged from its experimental basis. As a practical fighter, the resulting design had a number of serious shortcomings.

One of the aircraft's biggest problems was a side effect of its greatest strength; its high speed. In practice, pilots found it very difficult to get enough rounds into an enemy aircraft before they were already past it. This led to numerous developments for more powerful weapons, but this problem was never wholly solved.

Another issue was that, like most gliders, the Me 163 landed on a skid under the aircraft, as opposed to conventional landing gear with wheels. This meant when the aircraft came to a stop on the field after landing, it could not be moved until a Scheuch-Schlepper three-wheeled transporter jacked it up onto a dolly. This left them open to air attack while they waited in the fields.

But by far the biggest problem was the limited fuel load and resulting low endurance. The aircraft had a total power endurance of less than 8 minutes, much of which was used up taking off and climbing to altitude. This gave the aircraft very little time to find and attack the enemy, limiting it to a small area of operations almost directly above its own base. When initially proposed for operational use, there had been talk of building dozens of such bases to provide continual coverage, but as the problems above became clear these plans ended.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.83 m (25 ft)
• Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.17 m ()
• Wing area: 17.80 m² (191.59 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,105 kg (4,640 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 5,150 kg (11,354 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter HWK 109-509C-3 rocket, 19.61 kN (4,410 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 880 km/h (550 mph) (14,000 m (45,000 ft))
• Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,212 ft)
• Rate of climb: 150 m/s (29,500 fpm)
• Endurance:15 minutes at 11,000 m (36,090 ft)
• (All performance figures estimated)

• Me 263
  Model of Me 263
  Role	Fighter-Interceptor
  Manufacturer	Messerschmitt/Junkers
  Designer	Alexander Lippisch
  First flight	August 1944 (Unpowered)
  Primary user	Luftwaffe
  Number built	1
  Developed from	Messerschmitt Me 163