====== Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Me410A-1/U2 & U4 ======
* Manufacturer: [[https://uk.airfix.com/products/messerschmitt-me410a-1-a04066|Airfix]]
* Part number: A04066
* Year of production: 2023
* Scale: 1/72
* Series [[:blog:models:military:index|Military series]]
* Kit type: Fixed posed aircraft
* Vehicle: (late WW2 era) German heavy fighter
* Build date: Started December 2025
* Purchase date: Summer 2024 (£17.99 from [[https://www.kingkit.co.uk|Kingkit]] as an unbuilt, open-box item)
{{:blog:models:me410:mf_box_me410.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:mfr_completed_me410.jpg?500|}}
===== Extras =====
==== Masking set ====
* 1:72 ME410 Mask set for Airfix, CT Models. £6.75
{{:blog:models:me410:me410_masking.jpg?200|}}
==== Detail Upgrade Parts ====
I picked up a colour photoetch sheet from Eduard (£8.95 from https://sgsmodelstore.com):
{{:blog:models:me410:me410_photoetching.jpg?400|}}
As well as a more detailed brass + resin cannon part, to replace the plastic item used when constructing the Me410/U4 variant of the model (£6.75 from https://www.puzzlecraftltd.com):
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==== Alternative Colour Schemes ====
Italeri also released a 1/72 Me410, and their instructions include several alternative (more interesting?) colour schemes:
{{:blog:models:me410:italeri_me410_scheme.jpeg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:italeri_me410_scheme_2.jpeg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:italeri_me410_scheme_3.jpeg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:italeri_me410_scheme_4.jpeg?300|}}
{{:blog:models:me410:italeri_me410_scheme_paints.png?|}}
==== Humbrol Colour Codes ====
These are the Humbrol colours used in the Airfix assembly guide:
=== Interior / Assembly Colours ===
^ Humbrol Code ^ Name ^ Areas ^ Suggested Replacement ^
| 33 | Flat Black | Cockpit controls, guns, pilot/co-pilot seats, wing radiators, upper landing gear, tyres | |
| 53 | Flat Gunmetal | Exhaust | |
| 54 | Brass | Gun bay pipework | |
| 56 | Aluminium | Rudder controls | |
| 62 | Leather (matt) | Rear gun firing handle | |
| 79 | Blue Grey | All interior surfaces, bulkheads | Vallejo Model Air RLM 66. The Me-410 used //standardised// RLM 66 for interior/cockpit. Not sure why the Airfix codes don't refer to it. |
| 240 | RLM 02 (Grey matt) | Wheel wells, inner surface of nose gun pod (machine gun and cannon), inner surfaces of wing radiator supports, inner surfaces of landing gear | Vallejo Model Air RLM 02 |
| 247 | RLM 76 (Light blue matt) | Inner surface of nose gun pod (machine gun only) | Vallejo Model Air RLM 76 - same as the general underside colour. |
| N/A | | Seats | Army Painter Speedpaint Copper Brown |
| N/A | | Cockpit wiring/pipework | Vallejo Game Colour Magic Blue, Bloody Red, Vallejo Model Air Gold |
| N/A | | Cockpit drybrushing | Ammo Air Silver |
| N/A | | Cockpit wash | AK Starship Detail Wash |
=== Exterior Paint Schemes ===
The kit comes with two paint schemes, one for each of the Me410-U2 (gun armed) and U4 (cannon armed) built options. They both use the same colours:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170322.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170332.jpg?500|}}
^ Humbrol Code ^ Name ^ Suggested Replacement ^
| 33 | Matt Black | |
| 54 | Gunmetal | |
| 85 | Satin Coal Black | |
| 241 | RLM 70 Black Grey | |
| 245 | RLM 74 Green Grey | |
| 246 | RLM 75 Gray Violet | |
| 247 | RLM 76 Light Blue | Vallejo Model Air RLM 76. |
===== Build Log =====
This kit was bought in August 2024 to be displayed as part of my [[blog:models:luftwaffe_display|WW2 German Airfield]] display.
=== Box Contents ===
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Fine details on the plastic sprues:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170113.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170126.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170138.jpg?300|}}
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170151.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170202.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170210.jpg?300|}}
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170221.jpg?300|}}
Large (A4) format build instructions:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170240.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170259.jpg?300|}}
Two different paint/marking schemes:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170322.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170332.jpg?300|}}
Waterslide decal sheet:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20240825170352.jpg?300|}}
=== In Progress Images ===
**[December 2025]** Started assembly, beginning with the cockpit and rear gunner areas. The pilot seat needed a little bit of filing down in order to fit one of the [[:blog:military:models_revell_lw_crew|Revell German Airforce WWII Pilot]] figures:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20251229162805.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251229162835.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251229162844.jpg?500|}}
Seats and cockpit areas still need drybrush highlights, panel wash and then colour photo-etch adding.
**[30th December 2025]** Added machine gun section and cockpit floor glass. Fitted colour photo-etch details from the Eduard kit:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20251230113341.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230113925.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230113941.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230115602.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230115618.jpg?500|}}
Inner surfaces of fuselage painted and cockpit details highlighted:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120715.jpg?500|}}{{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120731.jpg?500|}}
Test fit cockpit in fuselage:
{{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120537.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120543.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120602.jpg?500|}}{{:blog:models:me410:img20251230120620.jpg?500|}}
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