I'm building the Hobby Boss 1/72 ME262 and it features optional ordnance. Now this is the A1-a version with the 4 30 mm cannons but the instructions have optional drop tanks or what looks like 21cm rocket launchers where the bombs would be mounted on the fighter bomber version. I can't find anything online or in books about this. Did they really carry them?
thanks
Mike

Hi Mike,

They are R4M air-to-air rockets. They were used in large quantities. Direct hit would blow up the bomber it hit. Refer to your painting guide to see if they were used in the plane you are making.






For more info, please see Wikipedia R4M, Stormbirds at war, R4M

Tuomas

Hi
I already know about them and it's not them on the kit. The kit parts look like the 21cm rocket launchers I've seen on ME109's. They are located where the nose bomb racks should be rather than under the wings. Hasegawa used to do a ME262 with the underwing rockets.
thanks
Mike

Sorry, I thought you meant those rockets. My fault.

Could it be the "Werfergranate 21" installed as some test piece? If the fw 190 had some rearward firing Wfr. Gr 21 installed under it why not 262 also? Can you post picture of it?

I think we have to wait for Steffen to show up..

Tuomas

Hi
Thats ok. I think they are what you have just said as that sounds familiar to me. it's just I've never heard of them being carried by ME262's. They are still on the sprue and my camera is useless for close up shots, otherwise I would post a pic.
thanks
Mike

I forgot to say the plane is 'white 8' of Kommando Nowotny 1944. The instructions just say you have a choice of either the rockets or drop tanks and don't specify which for either marking option
thanks
Mike

Hi Mike those sound like the air to air mortars mentioned in an earlier post.Might be safer to go with the drop tanks as ive new seen them fitted to a ME262 but anything is possible.They were more likely to have the R4M rockets pictured above.The mortars were normally seen on FW190 or ME410 aircraft for bomber destroying missions.

Well it had me confused as I've only ever seen pics of ME262's carrying bombs under the nose or R4 rockets under the wings. Unless someone can prove otherwise I'll go for the drop tanks!
thanks
Mike

I think that would be a good choice i think Kommando Nowotny was a fighter group so it would make sense that they would be carrying fuel and air to air ammo.