During WWII, Germany experimented with many very advanced concepts in jet and rocket-powered aircraft. Only a very few projects made it past the concept stage, and only a few of those were built even as mockups. This has become one of my favorite modeling subjects. Aside from their exotic appearances, it's fun to come up with conjectural operational color schemes for them.
    For more info on German paper projects, check out Dan Johnson's Luft '46 website.
Arado E580 Volksjaeger Planet Models' 1/72 scale resin kit of Arado's entry into the "Peoples' fighter" design competition. In conjectural markings for II Gruppe/JG27, North Africa. |
Arado E583 Planet Models' 1/72 scale resin kit of Arado's massive jet night fighter. In conjectural markings3:09 PM 1/20/2013. |
Blohm und Voss P.193.01 A proposed advanced dive bomber to replace the seriously obsolete Stuka. Planet Models 1/72, in spurious desert camo. |
Blohm und Voss P.212.03 Jet Fighter Project One of my favorites, a very cool tailless jet design. Special Hobby's 1/72 kit as it may have appeared in the markings of 8/JG54 |
Blohm und Voss AE. 607/P.217 Jet Fighter Project Curiouser and curiouser! A near-delta flying wing with canards. Or whiskers. R/S Models 1/72 resin kit as it may have appeared in desert service. |
Daimler-Benz Project "B" Parasite Bomber The lower component of DB's massive intercontinental bomber carrier aircraft. Part of Anigrand Craftswork's 1/144 resin kit of the whole Project B system. |
DFS 228 Hohenaufklarer A rocket-powered high altitude reconaissance aircraft. This design actually made it to prototype, and was test flown. Huma Models 1/72 Scale. |
Focke Wulf 3x1000 Entwurf B FW's second proposal to meet a RLM requirement for a jet bomber to carry 1000kg of bombs 1000 kilometers at 1000 kilometers per hour. Planet Models resin 1/72 Scale. |
Focke Wulf Entwurf II Jet fighter project of 1943 Planet Models resin 1/72 Scale. Kit and various other decals. |
Focke Wulf "Triebflugel" (Thrustwing) VTOL Interceptor A concept that a test pilot would only come near under life-threatening orders from a Nazi regime. Huma, 1/72 Scale. |
Focke Wulf Ta 183A-1 "Huckebein" Jet Fighter A newer, better kit by new company AMtech in 1/48 Scale, with new research by Dan Johnson. As it would appear in JG2's markings. |
Focke Wulf Ta 283 Ramjet Interceptor Bizarre design for a rocket-assisted-takeoff ramjet interceptor. As it would appear in JG7's markings. Huma, 1/72 Scale. |
Gotha P.60C Night Fighter Intriguing proposal with over-and-under jet engines. Planet Models resin, 1/72 Scale. |
Heinkel He162D Jet Fighter Unbuilt variant of the actually-built He162 Volksjager, with forward-swept wings and V-tail. Dragon Models, 1/48 Scale. |
Heinkel P.1078 Jet Fighter Heinkel's entry into the Emergency Fighter Competition, shown in JG7's markings. Special Hobby, 1/72 Scale. |
Heinkel P.1079A Night Fighter One of the most modern-looking designs of the 1940s, it sported features that jet fighters would continue to use for 20 years. Planet Models resin, 1/72 Scale. |
Heinkel P.1079B Night Fighter A much smaller concept considered under Projekt # 1079. Planet Models resin, 1/72 Scale. |
Horten Rocket Wing A boomerang-shaped flying wing projekt from the Horten brothers with rocket engines in the wingtips. Fantastic Plastic 1/72 scale resin kit. |
Henschel P.75 Proposal for a canard-layout pusher-fighter. Interstingly, the design turned up 50 years later in Rutan's Vari-EZ private plane. Alliance Models resin. 1/72. |
Henschel P.87 Schnell bomber Project Another canard from Henschel, this one proposaing a high speed bomber. Planet Models resin. 1/72. |
Junkers EF-128 Jet fighter One of the more promising tailless jet designs. "Snake" camoflouge designed by Daniele Sabatini for Dan Johnson's monograph on the plane. |
Messerschmitt Me-262HG3 Night Fighter A refinement of the Me-262 jet fighter with more streamlining and buried engines, and a radar in the nose. Special Hobby, 1/72 Scale. |
Messerschmitt Me-263A-1 Rocket Interceptor A proposed advanced replacement for the Me-163 Komet, built only as a prototype. As it may have appeared in the markings og 2./JG400. Czech Models, 1/48. |
Messeschmitt Me-509 fighter Projekt A development of the Me-309 with a mid-engine, forward-cockpit arrangement. Trumpeter, 1/48 scale plastic kit. |
Messerschmitt P.08.01 (Jet Variant) Planned long-range 4-engine bomber. I eliminated the pusher propellors to see what a jet-engined version would look likr. Anagrand resin, 1/144. |
Messerschmitt P.1099 Proposal for an all-weather or long range fighter based upon components of the Me-262. Revell of Germany, 1/72 Scale. |
Messerschmitt P.1101 Night Fighter The 1101 as it may have appeared as a night fighter with X-4 air-to-air missiles. DML, 1/72 Scale kit, showing the alternate T-tail design. |
Messerschmitt P.1106 Jet fighter One of the more radical designs that nevertheless found its way into production Russian jet fighters, such as the Yak-17 after the war. Huma Models 1/72 Scale Kit. |
Messerschmitt P.1110/II A remarkably modern jet fighter designed in 1944, with features that would be used in jets for the next two decades. Planet Models, 1/72 Scale. |
Messerschmitt P.1111 January 1945 design for a tailless jet fighter with a lotta wing. PM Models of turkey, 1/72 Scale. |
Mistel 5 An interesting proposal to use an He-162 to guide a really frickin' huge powered bomb to targets such as bridges and battleships. DML 1/72 Scale. |
Rheinmetal-Borsig VTOL Utterly bizzarre concept for a vertical takeoff interceptor Fantastic Plastic 1/72 resin kit. |