Kagero | Last Hope of the Luftwaffe: Me 163, He 162, Me 262

Reviewed by Radu Brinzan

Last Hope of the Luftwaffe: Me 163, He 162, Me 262 is a recent publication from the Polish publishers Kagero, created by Jacek Pasieczny, Simon Schatz and Arkadiusz Wrobel, number 37 in their “mini TOPCOLORS” series, catalogue No. 15037.

This 20-page publication comes in an A4 landscape format with gloss thick cardboard covers and beautifully printed gloss pages, all enclosed in a thin and clear transparent plastic wallet. This package also includes one decal sheet with markings for ten aircraft described in the book, in scales 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32.

The publication consists of beautiful and vivid colour profiles and some top/bottom views of ten German jets of various types used at the end of World War 2. The colours and markings are thoroughly described in the case of each aircraft both in English and in Polish. Also included are short but significant descriptions of significant events that these aircraft were involved in.

Messerschmitt Me 163 B V53, W.Nr. 16310062, “White 9”, flown by Uffz. Kurt Schiebler of 1./JG400, Brandis, Germany, early August 1944. This is one of the Me 163 that scored a victory. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.
Messerschmitt Me 163 B, “White 10”, flown by Lt. Hand-Ludwig Loescher of 1./JG400, Brandis, Germany, February 1945. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.
Messerschmitt Me 163 B V52, W.Nr. 16310061, “Yellow 1”, flown by Lt. Reinhard Opitz, Kapitaen of 7./JG400, Nordholz, Germany, April 1945. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.
Heinkel He 162 A-1, W.Nr 310003, “Yellow 5” of 3./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. This aircraft wears an emblem consisting of three JG 1 badges on the right side under the cockpit.
Heinkel He 162 A-2, W.Nr 120067, “White 4” of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. This aircraft wears the badge of 1.JG 1 on the right side under the cockpit.
Heinkel He 162 A-2, W.Nr 120028, “White 3” of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. This aircraft wears the badge of 1.JG 1 on the right side under the cockpit.
Heinkel He 162 A-2, W.Nr 120231, “White 6” of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. This aircraft is partially painted with large areas of puttied natural metal on display as well as a dark-coloured nose dome.
Messerschmitt Me 262 A-2a, W.Nr. 110613 “9K+DK”, flown by Ofw. Hermann Wieczorek of 2./KG 51, Rheine-Hopstein, Germany, 25th February 1945. This aircraft wears a very intricate paint scheme consisting of meandering lines of dark green paint applied over the factory two-tone colour scheme. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.
Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a “Yellow 2” of 3./KG(J) 54 Prague-Ruzyne, Czechoslovakia, May 1945. This aircraft wears a very attractive paint scheme consisting of bands of varying widths and contrasting shades accented with thinner meandering lines of dark green paint. The tail is decorated with a white and blue chequer band and the nose section is a replacement unit. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.
Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a “White 34” of III./EJG 2 Brunnthal, Germany, May 1945. This aircraft wears a very interesting “patchwork” paint scheme consisting of meandering lines of dark green paint applied over light grey on the fuselage, a replacement nose section and unpainted wings. This aircraft is also illustrated in top and bottom views.

This is yet another beautifully-presented glossy decal/profile book from Kagero. The three unusual Me 262 in particular feature very complex paint schemes that may challenge even the most seasoned painter. The quality of the illustrations and the printing are among the best available today. The decals are printed by Cartograf, they are clear, sharp and printed in perfect register. Highly recommended.

Kagero | Last Hope of the Luftwaffe: Me 163, He 162, Me 262

Reviewed by Radu Brinzan

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