1:48 Heinkel He 178 V-2

Heinkel He 178 V-2 1:48 — Special Hobby

A short-run injection-molded plastic kit of the second prototype of the German Heinkel He 178 in 1:48 scale from the Czech firm Special Hobby. Besides the plastic parts the box holds a photo-etched fret, two cast resin parts, an injection-molded canopy and clear film. Most of the plastic parts come from the original short-run mold of the 1990s, so the material is thicker and the fit calls for work.

The real subject

The He 178 was the first aircraft in the world to fly with a jet engine; that happened in August 1939, a few days before the Second World War broke out. The engine designed by Hans von Ohain was mounted in the fuselage, with air led to it by a duct from the nose intake and the exhaust taken out through the tail. The machine was only a proof-of-concept prototype, its flying qualities were poor and the authorities took no interest in it at first. The second prototype, the V-2, received a revised, enlarged wing and a different shape of rear fuselage.

Building and painting tips

Reckon on dry fitting the parts and on filling and sanding back the seams; the fit is the weak point of this mold. Wash the remains of the mold release agent off the resin parts and glue them with cyanoacrylate, and the same for the photo-etched fret. According to reviews the decals are thin and tear, so lift them off the backing paper carefully and lay them over a gloss base. The plain light finish of the prototype will show up every blemish, so once the putty work is done, spray the surface with filler primer.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of the first jet aircraft and of prototypes
• Modelers looking for a subject with a historical first
• Experienced modelers, as the mold calls for work
• Enthusiasts of short-run kits with etched parts and resin

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.