Friday, 11 January 2013

Off on a Komet*

This Me-163 'Komet' is another pre-painted Japanese 'Gashapon' model.  It didn't even require much assembly.  An interesting WW2 'Vonder Veapon', the Komet was designed around a rocket motor to get very high up very quickly in order to then pour a load of 30mm cannon shells into a nice tight formation of B-17s or B-24s. 
30+ years ago I read a book by a chap who'd been one of the development pilots.  I understand this wasn't a long-term career option. 
After what must have been a hair-raising takeoff the wheels were jettisoned (and later re-used).  A couple of minutes later the fuel in this militarised firework ran out and then it was back home (if you were lucky) for a precarious landing on the glider-style skid.. What could possibly go wrong?
This really is a tiny 'plane!
* with apologies to M. Jules Verne
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17 comments:

  1. Anonymous11 January 2013 at 15:47

    They used to launch these with a giant rubber band, right?

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  2. Milgeek11 January 2013 at 16:04

    The British continued development of this format after the war developing several rocket based designs culminating on the amazing Saunders-Roe SR.53! The British boffins solved the Comet flaw (short burn rocket) by using a 'mixed propulsion' system of jet and rocket.

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  3. The Dancing Cake Tin11 January 2013 at 16:34

    I prefer the rubber band theory meself.

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  4. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 16:39

    SAROE
    I think your idea might have been a lot safer...

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  5. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 16:41

    Stephen Beat
    I like to think that the ultimate successor to the '163 was the BAC Lightning! Of which more soon...

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  6. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 16:42

    Dancing Cake Tin
    I can feel a 'cardboard simulator' lawn game coming on...

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  7. Arthur11 January 2013 at 18:22

    Ah yes, lawn? game, sit on a lawn mower launched on downhill road; he who stays on longest is the winner.

    Real purple hearts are order of the day.

    Regards

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  8. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 18:34

    Arthur
    OK - try it out and let us all know how it went. Can you do posthumous blog posts?

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  9. Wargame News and Terrain Blog11 January 2013 at 18:48

    Looks great! Never heard of this type of aircraft.

    Cheers

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  10. David Crook11 January 2013 at 19:37

    Hi Tim,

    IIRC the residual fuel had a nasty tendency to explode when sloshing about in the tank at the end of a run and also dissolving the pilot!

    I rather like the Lightning analogy although it was safer to fly!

    All the best,

    DC

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  11. Scott B. Lesch11 January 2013 at 20:43

    I shot a couple of photos of the one in the Smithsonian Air and Space museum at Dulles airport.

    https://picasaweb.google.com/115187198118634211201/DullesAirAndSpace#5640760536399251298

    https://picasaweb.google.com/115187198118634211201/DullesAirAndSpace#5640760534579386754

    I hope these links work.

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  12. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 20:50

    Wargame News and Terrain
    It is rather unusual!

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  13. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 20:51

    David Crook
    You are just so full of good news!

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  14. Tim Gow11 January 2013 at 20:54

    Scott B Lesch
    Thanks for the links - that looks a great museum.

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  15. Archduke Piccolo15 January 2013 at 11:03

    Was this the thing the Germans called the 'Flying Flea'?

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  16. Tim Gow15 January 2013 at 18:18

    West1871
    Which kit are you building? I have a very distant memory of the Airfix version.

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  17. Tim Gow15 January 2013 at 18:19

    Archduke Piccolo
    If they didn't they should have!

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