As my initial proposal to build an Bf.110 Wespe has been disallowed I have decided to go with the very similar kit of the Me.410 Hornisse.
That being the case, and as both aircraft are very similar, I will build both simultaneously and just report on the Hornisse (with the occasional Wespe picture thrown in for good measure). After all, if you've got the RLM grey paints open for one 1/48 kit, you may as well do the other at the same time don't you think?!
The Me.410 is the Revell-Monogram ProModeller boxing out of Morton Grove, Illinois, with @1997 on the instructions.
The box art and decal sheet (for both of these kits) clearly show Swastikas.
The very nicely detailed instructions have large, clear exploded views as well as lots of written directions and useful black and white photos of an actual aircraft (it doesn’t say so anywhere but it is obviously the one in the RAF Museum at Cosford, which is nice, as I have lots of close up photos of that one myself from my trips there.
Decals are provided for 3 different schemes, all of which are similar and all include the dreaded mottled camouflage.
The paint call-out letters are very usefully referenced back to a table that gives the colour description and also the RLM number where appropriate.
The usual Luftwaffe splinter type camouflage for each of the three schemes is RLM 74 and RLM 75 uppers over RLM 76.
The mottling is given as (sprayed) RLM74, RLM02 and RLM75 over RLM 76 for the aircraft sides.
The instructions (approx. A4 size) run to 24 sides, with 12 constructions steps. There are also some very nice hints and tips for both construction and painting – very user friendly all in all.
The kit has had parts cut from the sprues already, but all of my kits are like that because that the bit I enjoy doing most!
The Revell Bf110 is also from Morton Grove, has a @1999 and also gives RLM paint reference.
Missing are the photos of a real aircraft – these are straight-forward instructions – same size as the Me.410 instructions but with only 16 sides and 15 assembly steps. The colour scheme is effectively the same as for the Me.410.
There are decals for two aircraft, one being the beautiful Wespe scheme. The other has a very nice skeletal hand image either side of the nose and on the wings behind the engine. I may have to source another kit just to use these decals!
This kit surprisingly comes with a resin nose, but there is no other resin or photo-etch or anything?!
Anyway, back to the 410, here is the first construction step, with the parts placed alongside the drawings.
I've decided to paint all of the interior detail before construction as it would be nigh- on impossible afterwards having done a dry fit first.
Here is the area for the 2nd man - the guys sat in tandem rather than back to back apparently.
So far I have talked a good build(s), so now I'm off to do some.
Cheers
Al.
Your trousers keep going missing Al? 
