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Is AZmodel to release soon 1/72nd Heinkel He-162B/C Volksjäger kits. Source: https://www.facebook.com/azmodelkits/posts/pfbid02Wt9k8vi8Qq42tb3X23rBwrvnzed8j8Vj4Mx1eKWcQSgD2detcygaxphcjMLR8rBul Box art - He-162B V.P.

Heinkel He.162A Update Sets (for Special Hobby/Dragon) 1:72 CMK by Special Hobby The He.162 was the winner of the VolksJäger contest in the defence of the Reich once the war had turned against the Nazis. Special Hobby have a new tool kit on the books and have now released a small gaggle of upgrade parts for the detail enthusiast, broken down into three sets, plus another to update the older Dragon kit in the same scale. The two sets of wheels and the ejection seat are in the green-backed and bagged Quick & Easy series, while the two main sets for engine, gun bays and figures are in the usual yellow clamshell packs, all with instructions pinned to the rear. Wheels (Special Hobby Q72362 & Dragon Q72368) These two sets for their respective kits contain three wheel parts on a single casting block, with the mating point attaching to the slightly flattened contact patches. The sets are of course patterned to their kits, so select the one for you. BMW 003 Jet Engine (7443 for Special Hobby) This set contains six resin parts on their own casting blocks, complete with a fully detailed engine in two parts with two cowling parts plus intake lip and exhaust cowling, with the colour call-outs shown in the various instruction steps, and requiring a tiny piece of wire to portray the DF loop on top of the engine cowling. When complete, it drops into place on the upper fuselage of the model in place of the kit assembly. Gun Bays (7444 for Special Hobby) This set involves no cutting of the model, as Special Hobby have included the gun bay covers in the kit for the modeller to glue closed. This set fills that gap with six resin parts, two of those are the bays, two more for the MG 151/20 that inhabit each side of the nose, and two final parts provide in-scale bay doors with internal details to finish off. Ejection Seat (Q72361) The rudimentary ejection seat in the 162 was a simple affair with none of the crew-comforts we see in modern seats, and at 1:72 it’s a little thing. It is mounted on a casting block that needs cutting off, then the PE belts and additional seat parts in the shape of the foot-rests and hand-holds are attached, hopefully protecting the pilot from flail injuries in the event of an emergency ejection, providing the pilot didn’t lose grip. Three Pilot Figures (F72365) There are three pilots in the box, each in a different form of dress and pose. One is wearing a greatcoat and cap, looking skyward, the second is dressed ready to fly with helmet and parachute strapped to his back, adjusting his gloves. The final figure is dressed in typical pilot garb when off-duty, with breeches, leather jacket, knee-length boots and officer’s cap, doing a creditable impression of Adolf Galland from certain angles. You can use them individually or as a group, and they would be equally appropriate for any WWII German aircraft. Conclusion These sets take a modern kit and fill it with detail that will set it apart from the base kit, and give lots of scope for dioramas into the bargain. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hello Folks, As my A-10 is currently stalled whilst I work out how to resolve a few issues I thought I would start on another kit. Just to stop the dust from settling on my workbench of course! Its the Trimaster kit of the Heinkel He162A-2 in 1/48 with a resin pit by Aires, etch from Eduard and Montex masks. I bought this kit and the associated aftermarket as a 'job lot' at Sword and Lance in Darlington in 2014. And thought it would be a nice quick and easy build to keep me occupied. It was the box picture and the resin bits taped to the lid that caught my attention (the opportunity to add extra details to cockpit and engine!). The box was still sealed in it's cellophane. Anyway, here is the obligatory in box shot... 'Only three sprues included in the box? hmm that's not much for your money' thought I and then I decided to have a look inside the little blue 'packing' box on the right, and these fell out... Sorry about the poor photo I didn't realise it was part in shadow until too late. I'll include better shots later in the build. Etched detail parts for the cockpit and engine, and a set of PE hinges (to assemble!) for the cowlings. There's also white metal landing gear, ejector seat, and even a cast nose weight shaped to fit in the nose! The remainder are bits of brass rod, wire, tube etc, for the other details. I wonder why the original owner bought the resin pit and Eduard etch? Speaking of which, here's the aftermarket... And a better picture of the resin 'pit before cleanup. Well, these things don't build themselves, so better get started.... More to follow later Al (Edit to correct typo's)

Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger. This is an He 162 A-2 (Werknummer 120227) of JG 1 is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London. Pics thanks to Chris (aka Spruecutter)