1/48 Heinkel He 219A-7/R4 Uhu

by Davin Evans

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The He 219 was designed initially in mid 1940 as Projekt 1064.  It was to be a Kampf-Zerstörer or a milti-role attack aircraft.  It included a pressurized cockpit, twin wheel tricycle landing gear, and remote gun turrets.  While this was precisely what the Luftwaffe needed, the Ob.d.L. looked upon the aircraft unfavorably because of its radical features.  They felt that the “American” nose wheel was bad.  Projekt 1064 also featured the DB 603 engine which had never been requested officially.  Therefore the project was filed away.  General Josef Kammhuner, General der Nachtjägd, needed an advanced nightfighter and meet with Hitler, he received the power to overrule his opponents and in late 1941 projekt 1064 became the He 219.  The HE 219 V1 first flew on November 15 1942, and had exceptional handling.  Plans for manufacturing were thrown off by repeated bombings and production was further delayed by Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch.  In 1942 Heinkel finally got a contract for 127 aircraft.  The He 219A-0 received an upgrade in armament and a compressed air ejection seat.  In its first combat mission an He 219 shot down 5 RAF bombers.  In the following 6 missions the he 219 shot down 20 more bombers, including 6 Mosquitoes which before had been untouchable at night. 

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Tamiya’s kit fits perfectly and features good detail.  I built it out of the box.  Marking options were limited due to the relatively few aircraft built and are restricted to NJG1, being the only unit equipped with the He 219.  I painted the aircraft with Model Master enamels and a Badger 150 airbrush.   I learned after I completed the model that the camouflage should actually be RLM 75 with a tight “spaghetti” pattern of RLM 76, rather than a mottling of RLM 75 over RLM 76.  

Davin

Photos and text © by Davin Evans