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• SP 06/2014 • 2014-11-11
• InternetModeler.com • 2014-11-11
• IPMSUSA.org • 2014-10-25
• SAMI 07/2014 • 2014-10-25
• Air Modeller No. 54 • 2014-10-25
• Cybermodeler.com • 2014-10-25
• Hyperscale.com • 2014-10-25
• MAI 09/2014 • 2014-10-25
• Airfix Model World 10/2014 • 2014-10-25
• speedreaders.info • 2014-10-25
• Model Aircraft 11/2014 • 2014-10-25

• SP 06/2014 • 2014-11-11
  
• InternetModeler.com • 2014-11-11

  By Chris Banyai-Riepl

  The Messerschmitt Me 262 is one of the most famous jet fighters, being the first to see widespread combat operations. Because of that notoriety, the Me 262 has been the subject of a great number of books. Even with all that attention, though, there seems to always be new information showing up, and every now and then a new book consolidates the latest research. With this breadth of coverage, it can be difficult to find a book that simply documents the variants and details. That's where this book from Mushroom Model Publications comes in, as this is a simple variant overview that documents the evolution of the Me 262. The book starts out with a technical overview of the Me 262, which highlights the development and production of the plane, including prototypes. Following this is the section detailing the individual variants, and each of these variants are documented with drawings and photographs. A handful of color profile illustrations highlight the camouflage and markings of the Me 262, and the remaining pages of the book provide dozens of detail photos, many of which are in color.

  For those looking for a good basic reference on the Me 262, this definitely fits the bill. It presents the information clearly and concisely, and the quality of the photos add to the value. My thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy.

• IPMSUSA.org • 2014-10-25

  Reviewed by: Pablo Bauleo, IPMS# 46363

  The Me-262 requires little if any introduction, however reference material for it is always sought after. This book is intended to cover all the marks and variants of the single seat “A” series, including some obscure prototypes.

  The book is very logically broken down in a section that describes the technical characteristics of the airplane, the production blocks, and several tables with details covering prototypes from Werk Numbers, to Me-262 aces.

  The next section has period B&W pictures and 1/72nd scale drawings of all the different variants of the A series, including details on their armament, if applicable.

  After that there are no less than 58 color profiles, including a few top/bottom views of the Me-262 in the fighter and bomber configuration, plus color profiles of captured examples and post-war examples in Czech service.

  A walk-around section wraps up this book. It is broken down in General View, Fuselage, Canopy, Cockpit, Tail, Wings, Engines, Undercarriage and Armament. All the pictures in the walk-around sections are of restored aircraft in full color. Most of the pictures include which museum example is being depicted, a date, and if the colors are known to be original or restored. Several technical drawings and diagrams from the official manuals are depicted next to the pictures.

  You can see the full book trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYosKRoBRKI

  Also the publisher offers an interactive Me-262 instrument panel as free content: http://www.mmpbooks.biz/panel/me_262_panel.html

  This book is an excellent source of information on the production aspects of the different variants for the “A” series. The color profiles are mouth-watering and the walk-around with detailed pictures and drawings from technical manuals in the last section makes this book a must have for any modeler.

  Highly recommended.

• SAMI 07/2014 • 2014-10-25
  
• Air Modeller No. 54 • 2014-10-25
  
• Cybermodeler.com • 2014-10-25

  By David L. Veres

  Review

  Seeking a handy handbook on Nazi German's iconic jet fighter? Look no further than Messerschmitt Me 262 A Schwalbe from Stratus/MMP Books – available in North America from Casemate.

  After an obligatory "technical description", contents immediately shift to capsule entries on every subtype – including Schnellbomber/Sturmvogel attack variants. Thirty pages of beautifully rendered color plates – including examples in captured Allied use – follow.

  Coverage then continues with airframe and interior details – including cockpit, instrumentation, armament and engine specifics. And a list of selected primary and secondary sources satisfactorily suggests this amazing aircraft's bibliography.

  The variant drawings alone are worth the price of admission. Dozens of Me 262 photos – color and B&W; historical and preserved machines – also season this succinct study. In citing postwar Czech developments, Stratus/MMP even thoughtfully tout their pending Mezek & Turbina: Messerschmitts in Czechoslovakia.

  I'm certainly licking my eyebrows for that!

  What a cool, convenient, compact compendium! Confused about Me 262 variants? Looking for model project inspiration? Get Messerschmitt Me 262 A Schwalbe from Stratus/MMP Books.

  Roundly recommended!

• Hyperscale.com • 2014-10-25

  Reviewed by Mark Davies

  FirstRead

  The Me 262 should need no introduction to most readers; but for a handy synopsis on its development and service history, check out Wikepedia by clicking here.

  The book is focussed exclusively on the Me 262A and its sub-variants. It has a hard cover with 112 A-4 pages, 88 of which include either colour profiles or colour photographs of actual aircraft. This is the second and expanded edition.

  It does not set out to give the Me 262’s service history, but instead focuses on providing illustrative coverage of the Me 262A’s evolution and anatomy. As such it covers the prototype and the various production versions, illustrating each with 1/72-scale plans. There are also numerous very nicely executed illustrations of various colour schemes, provided as full-page profiles, and often accompanied by plan views as well. The book is replete with technical drawings of airframe components from official manuals, plus many walkaround-style photos of museum examples from around the world. In addition to these there is a fairly generous smattering of wartime images, many dealing with the more obscure sub-variants.

  Other handy information includes tables detailing prototype and test-bed details, production block information, and a list of Me 262 aces. This last table includes each ace’s total victories; those gained flying the Me 262, and the units he flew the jet fighter with.

  The quality of the colour photos is very good, and benefit from generally being quite large. A nice touch is that many of the pages with museum walk-around photos also include technical illustrations of the same components from period manuals. The attractive colour scheme illustrations include colour information in the form of RLM codes, along with unit and pilot information where available.

• MAI 09/2014 • 2014-10-25
  
• Airfix Model World 10/2014 • 2014-10-25
  
• speedreaders.info • 2014-10-25

  Obviously, even the casual bystander recognizes the Me 262 as the world’s first operational jet aircraft and Germany’s last great effort to regain momentum. Which is why in the seven decades since it first pierced the sky piles of material about it have been published already. What is not so obvious is what this book does that no other does. This is an especially pertinent question because this is not the first time this very book has been published. The first edition, from 2002, was half the size.

  An explanation by the author or publisher would have helped here. On the surface, an answer can be inferred based on what makes this publisher different from others. MMP books usually focus on the sort of micro detail or non-mainstream topic that other publishers stay away from, and they are specifically written with the modeler who is not content with store-bought kits in mind. But MMP already covers this aircraft in several of its other books and this new book only addresses the A model (and only the single-seater), both prototype and production versions in bomber/fighter/recon spec, but not the subsequent B, C, D, E, S, W and Lorin variants. Does that mean other books on this level of detail are forthcoming? If so, may they be spared the sloppy proofreading (especially of German words) and occasionally inelegant English syntax of this one.

  Being published in the Yellow Series leads one to expect an emphasis on technical detail and model-to-model modifications rather than operational or overall developmental history. Check. If “longeron” or “Frise-type aileron” are not part of your vocabulary, this book may be too specialized, at least in regards to the technical analysis which really only takes up a small number of pages. The bulk of the book is devoted to color profiles, period photos, modern photos of museum aircraft, 1/72 scale drawings, exploded views, and reproductions of pages from manuals (especially for cockpit layout, engines) etc. Imagine being given a guided tour of different examples of this aircraft and individual components, inside and out—that’s this book.

  Folks who build kit models have to paint them so the special treat here is 58 color views of Me 262s in US, French, Czech, UK, and Russian markings. All the color profiles note the official German paint codes/names and squadron/pilot information. But if anyone is a stickler for detail it is the very modeler/restorer who’ll be dissecting these drawings so it must be pointed out that one inscription (p. 42 #111451) could not have been written by a German-speaker unless that person didn’t know his personal pronouns!

  So, we end where we started: it’s not clear what this book wants to accomplish. It’s certainly cheap enough (especially in £) to be a painless impulse buy or for completists who can only sleep well if their library is fully stocked.

  Just for kicks, and definitely something no one else offers: check out the interactive Me 262 instrument panel on the publisher’s website.

  Copyright 2014, Sabu Advani (speedreaders.info).

• Model Aircraft 11/2014 • 2014-10-25