One of the many Plastic Model Clubs I am an active member of is an informal group that meets (almost) monthly in near Purcelville, VA. Been meeting with this group of guys for more than 20 years. Every year we pick a “Build the same kit” subject. For 2023 it was “Any German Jet from WWII (including Luftwaffe 1946 aircraft)”. As I know my time is more limited than ever, I picked one of the several 1/144 Luftwaffe kits I had in my stash. The Brengun He 162D. This was a version that had swept forward wings and a “V” tail. It was never built or flown, so a Luftwaffe 1946 subject.
The kit is very basic. It does have a cockpit and wheel wells. I behaved myself and set out to build it OOB. Most of the year I was able to dabble a bit here and there, always missing the color I needed to paint, so that slowed me down. I used Mr Color Exclusively on this build, except the Polly Scale “wood” color for inside the Engine Nacelle and Tamiya LP-30 sliver for the Intake Spike. This paint is so thin when you spray it you get the coverage you want in 1/144 and doesn’t obliterate the details that you get with Testors or Vallejo paints (YMMV). The fit is rather bad. Parts can be too short, too long, or too large. Lots of test fitting and using styrene shims for a proper fit.
Right now, I have the exterior painting done and ready for decals. I picked the RLM 81/82/78 scheme to stay away from the feathering and mottle finish of the others. I know my limits and my sanity well enough to stay away from that.
I included some picture of my build progress and one to compare the size vs the Mercedes CLK GTR engine that has had most of my attention of late and a link about the He 162.
Here is a link to the IPMS/USA review of this kit.
As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Mark Tutton
Shenandoah Valley Modelers 
Mark, what an interesting aircraft. The German engineers were certainly ahead of their time with those forward swept wings. Imagine if they put the Me-262 in mass production early enough instead of well after it was too late.
Good luck with the red with white stripes in the bottom of the aircraft at that scale. I bet Chad is probably developing a deep bro-mance with you right now.
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No way I would do that Red/white stripe scheme. 1), I’m not that crazy; 2) that scheme was used by the propeller powered aircraft protecting the Airfields Jets Flew from making using it on a jet a non sequitur. The standing orders at the time to the Flak Crews was to shoot at anything that didn’t sport that scheme. Think D-Day Invasion stripes on Allied Aircraft. Allied pilots quickly learned the jets were their most vulnerable at take off and landing. So many Fighter sweeps concentrated at these airfields in an attempt to bag Me 262s before they could attack the bombers. TA-152 and FW190D9 are the ones photographed the most sporting this scheme. I’m sure there are ones of 109Ks and G14s somewhere.
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