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The story behind your model New guide preview

Me 262 A-1a: jet speed, wartime limits

The Me 262 brought jet combat into a war still dominated by propellers. Its first successful flight using jet power came on 18 July 1942, but turning a fast prototype into a dependable operational aircraft took much longer. Engine development, bombing of German industry and the competing demands placed on the aircraft all slowed its progress. When it entered combat in 1944, its speed presented Allied pilots with a very different interception problem.

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This A-1a is the fighter version, recognisable by four 30 mm MK 108 cannon concentrated in the nose. Twin Junkers Jumo 004 engines hung beneath its swept wings, while a tricycle undercarriage gave it a distinctly modern stance. The heavy cannon armament was particularly dangerous to bombers. Tamiya also provides air-to-air rocket options, but these belong to specific configurations and should be selected with the chosen aircraft's instructions rather than fitted to every Me 262.

Speed alone could not reverse Germany's situation. Fuel shortages, inadequate supplies of parts and pilots, and attacks on airfields and transport links sharply limited operations. The US Air Force museum records that fewer than 300 of more than 1,400 aircraft built saw combat. A model of the A-1a therefore captures both a major technological change and the practical limits of introducing an immature weapon during the collapse of its supporting system.

Sources and accuracy

Tamiya 61087 original instruction manual; National Museum of the US Air Force: Messerschmitt Me 262A Schwalbe

Kit Instruction Colors
View kit instructions (PDF)

These are the kit manufacturer’s paint recommendations. Follow the exact instruction diagrams for placement, marking choices and mixes. They are separate from the historical palettes below.

Build This Aircraft

These 26 paints are listed for the 61087 Me262 A-1a. AS-23 and AS-24 with AS-5 start selected; AS-3/AS-4 and AS-17 are alternate marking colors. Follow the manual for the selected scheme.

Paints (26)
AS-3 Gray Green German SprayChecking availability…
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Tools and supplies (8)

Select any tools you need to add them with your paint selection.

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Paints and supplies sold separately. Prices and availability update from each product.

Historical Paint Schemes

Choose a documented aircraft or vehicle finish, then a paint system. These researched alternatives are separate from the instruction list above.

Each pack is its own shopping list. Choose one paint system; selections stay separate. Out-of-stock items remain visible but cannot be added. There is no bundle discount.

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Exterior scheme colors only. Check the diagrams for pattern and placement. Interior, crew, small details and decals are not included unless a pack explicitly says so. Model paints are manufacturer-intended reproductions or labeled approximations, not independently measured exact historical matches.

Sources and accuracy

Tools for this build

Practical suggestions for assembling and finishing this kit. Buy only what you need; nothing here is added automatically.

Build basics

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Useful extras · optional

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Choose glue for the material and thinner for the paint range. A shared base type alone does not guarantee different brands can be mixed together.

1/48 Me262A-1a 61087

Regular price $51.00

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61087

Tamiya 1/48 Me262A-1a 61087
1/48 Me262A-1a 61087
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