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ME 163 Komet plans are available from: Airborne Plans Service for AU$85.00 (3 sheets) plus 4.00 P&H2 (within
Australia).
Moulded Canopy: AU$27.50 plus P&H (AH$6.00 within
Australia).
Plan No. 647  To return to Airbornes home page
 ... 1/4 Scale Prop
driven WWII Rocket Fighter
HANGAR AND STRIP REPORT by Robert Dickson
In May 1944 the Luftwaffe released its secret
rocket propelled fighter for experimental operations against the
allied airforces over Europe.
One of the first combat engagements was by a
fiery red Komet from test unit 16, the pilot attacking a flight
of P47 Thunderbolts. During the engagement the Komet approached
speeds close to 600mph. This brief sortie was a significant
moment in WWII history. Despite its short flight endurance of 7.5
minutes powered flight, (extended by gliding) and its short range
cannon armament, the Komet gave it's opponents good reason to
panic.
The Komet's evolution began during the 1930s
with experiments using tailless gliders. In 1941, the prototype
was fitted with a small liquid fuelled rocket engine for high
speed research. The Komet would take off on a dolly, climb and
accelerate at an astonishingly rapid rate (40,000 ft in 3 - 5
minutes), then after the fuel supply was exhausted, it would
glide back to earth, landing on its skid. Attacks on enemy
aircraft had to be swift and sure.
The Komet's service introduction had limited
success due to delays, hence Komets entered production and
service when the war was drawing to a close. Its diminutive size,
high landing speed and carrying of highly volatile fuel also made
flying the Komet extremely hazardous. Pilots were killed or
seriously injured during heavy landings, when fuel tanks could
shift, rupturing fuel lines. When the two fuels contacted there
would be an instant explosion vaporizing all organic material.
THE MODEL
 The 1/4 scale model of the Me 163 Komet makes a
challenging and most fascinating subject for the experienced
scale modeller. Its size is relatively compact making
transportation easy. It does not require expensive retract
undercarriage systems but a dolly wheel must be made for it,
details of which are included in the plan.
The Komet can be flown on standard 4 channel
radio with standard servos provided there is an onboard
electronic mixer for the elevons or use an electronic mixing Tx..
The model is prop. driven with the exhaust ducted through the
middle of the fuselage, exiting at the tail pipe. With rich
mixture or extra oil in the fuel the model leaves a most
realistic smoke trail behind. A smoke unit fitted to the Komet
would give an even more realistic and spectacular effect. The
prop is almost indiscernible giving good scale like appearance
when flying.
The prototype was powered with an OS 108 two
stroke motor, however, any 120 motor would make the vertical
performance even more rocket like. It is a fully aerobatic model
that will create a huge sensation at any flying field.
COMSTRUCTION
THE FUSELAGE
The fuselage is built up with all formers glued
onto a central crutch, then skinned with balsa planking.
Cut out all formers, crutches, braces, spines,
keel etc. from 3mm ply sheet. There is a fair amount of plywood
used on this model which results in a very strong fuselage. This
is essential as the model, which is rather heavy and has a high
landing speed, has to make a belly landing after every flight.
If you decide to use an internal exhaust pipe,
it can be manufactured from stock aluminium (see sketch). I used
a tubular aluminium piece (approx 32mm diameter) straight through
at rear. At the front I hammered the circular tube into a square
shape onto which I epoxied a piece of square aluminium tube.
Cut out the exhaust slot, hammer a plug into
the end to match the engine muffler, then harness the muffler on
with a large hose clamp. Alternatively, a square tube can be used
all the way through with a tubular reduction piece welded onto
the rear end. The exhaust can be fitted after construction. Cut
out a hole in the firewall F1 to suit.
 Accurately align the formers
F1 - F7 over the crutch and glue them in squarely. Glue in the
side braces FS1 and FS2, the bottom spine. Tack on the hatch
formers F5a and F7a. Add C3 at the front, the F8 and F9 at the
rear. Glue in the square balsa longerons and top spine as well as
the wing root ribs and balsa blocks for the wing bolts.
Insert the brass tubes into the bottom keel for
the dolly wheel undercarriage. Glue the 12.5mm square hardwood
skid base onto either side of the keel. Glue in the cockpit base
between F1 and F3 and the fin support between F7 and F8. Now make
up the fin frame and skin with balsa sheet on both sides.
Glue the fin into the fuselage frame. Also glue
the 6.5mm balsa strip to the underside rear fuselage spine and
fill the leading edge of the wing root fairing with balsa block.
Mount the engine onto firewall F1 and check
clearances etc. for the exhaust header and pipe. The fuselage
frame up is now ready for the tedious process of planking. Use a
light to medium balsa for flexibility. Cut strips of 3mm x 6.5mm
balsa and plank thoroughly before sanding off any rough edges.
Add the tailwheel blocks onto the rear of the fuselage. Fill any
irregularities with lightweight filler or a mixture of polyester
resin with micro balloons. Sand the fuselage again for a smooth
finish.
Make up the engine cowl and nose cone which
becomes the spinner. Using foam block, sand the front end to
shape, then use two or three layers of fibreglass cloth and
resin. Again, smooth to shape. Fill any irregularities with
fibreglass and micro balloons filler. Smooth out and finish with
3/4oz woven fibreglass cloth. Sand down again.
 Cut out the spinner from the
nose cone unit. The backing plate is cut from 3mm aluminium bevelled, then grooved close to the perimeter to accommodate the
spinner. The front end of the spinner is filled on the inside
with fibreglass for greater strength. Fit the prop and backing
plate onto the motor then, using a prop nut to the correct size,
bolt the spinner onto the front squeezing the outer edges of the
spinner into the backing plate groove. The cowl is secured onto
the front of the fuselage with small screws into hardwood blocks
against C3.
Build up the rudder as shown on the plan. Mass
balance was used on the middle horn. Fit the rudder onto the fin.
Install the tail wheel with control rods coupled to the rudder
and tail wheel. Add an aluminium strip to the underside of the
skid.
Build up the canopy frame, paint it out and
glue the moulded plastic canopy onto the frame.
The canopy was hinged from the side. Cut out
the side windows rear of the cockpit and add the dummy aerial on
top.
THE WING
The wing is foam core with an inset I-beam at
the root, and balsa skinned. It also has built-in slots on the
outboard leading edges. The wing also has four degree reflex
which is set when cutting the cores. Do not change the design of
the wing in any way, as the inbuilt features are the secret of
its success.
Cut out the wing cores to size using the
template sections A and B. Cut out a channel for the I-beam
section, plus the slots, Drill holes for the wing rod and
locating dowels. Cut out the I-beam pieces and glue them into the
wing whilst gluing in W1 at the same time. Check wing alignment
with wings attached to the fuselage before the glue sets. The
wing has no dihedral. You may strengthen the area over the I-beam
section with fibreglass cloth three to four inches wide and epoxy
resin sandwiched under the wing skins. Skin the wing panels with
balsa sheet. Leave a gap over the I-beam for the dural plates
used for holding the wing.
Cut out sections for the elevons, slats and
leading edges. build up the slots with balsa and ply pieces. Add
the leading edge which becomes part of the slots on the outer
section. Glue in the elevon spars and wing tip blocks. Sand wing
to shape. Build up the elevons from balsa. They have a small
amount of twist in them to match the wing reflex. Fit with
hinges, onto the balsa spar. Wing fences and wing tip skids are
now fitted to the underside of the wing.
THE UNDERCARRIAGE DOLLY
 The drop-off dolly is made
from metal with pram or industrial wheels attached. It is fairly
simple to put together as illustrated on the plan. Make sure the
bolts are a loose fit into the fuselage tubes.
COVERING AND FINISHING
The fuselage can be covered in lightweight
3/4oz woven fibreglass cloth and polyester resin. The wing can
also be entirely covered in 3/4oz cloth or even heavier up to 2oz
if desired. However, to save weight, I simply used heavy weight
tissue over the wing skins.
Elevon and rudder were covered with Solartex.
There are several interesting colour schemes from all red, all
light blue and grey or green mottled camouflage. My model was
painted red enamel then the black and white Luftwaffe emblems
were painted on - I used the colour scheme of the famous Komet
flown by the Kommander of Erprobungs Kommando 16, Rocket Test
Unit. This aircraft was involved in the historical combat with
P-47 Thunderbolts of the 13th of May 1944.
Install the engine, fuel tank and radio gear
the carefully balance the model to the centre of gravity marked
on the plan, correct balancing is critical for flying this model.
All up, the Komet weighed 17lbs so a permit to fly this model is
required.
THE FRIGHTENING BIT
 The Komet flies very smoothly
and predictably and should present no problems to any pilot 'once
airborne'. The tricky bit is to get off the ground! You will need
a LONG, SMOOTH runway for this model. The take off run is the
most critical phase of flying the Komet. Once full throttle is
applied track straight using rudder but keep the model on the
dolly until and beyond flying speed. To obtain a clean rotation
of the dolly, quickly apply up elevator. Once airborne relax the
elevator and climb away.
One trap is that if the field is too bump, the
model Komet will bounce off its dolly when rolling a high speed
and end up on the ground. If this happens the engine should be
still running and you can refit the dolly and go again. After
many take offs and flights the model has never suffered wing drop
or sudden stalling. The slat and wing design contributed to these
safe flight characteristics.
The Centre of Gravity (C.G.) is critical. A
forward position will prevent the model pulling off the dolly and
too far aft the model will rotate early and oscillate wildly. The
C.G. range is very narrow so only very small adjustments should
be made to establish the ideal C.G. for your model.
Once airborne, the Komet really captivates the
onlookers. The fire red bat-like rocket plane with smoke trail
coming out of the tail cone contrasting against the bright blue
sky is really a sight to behold.
The aircraft is fully aerobatic. Loops, rolls,
Immelmans, 1/2 cubans can all be performed provided you have
sufficient power and energy to pull through the vertical
sections. Landing the model should be done with the engine
running just as you would normally with any other powered model.
The skid is deep enough for sufficient prop clearance and after
an abrupt halt the engine should still be ticking over.
To maintain good elevator response on landing,
bring the Komet in with a reserve of airspeed and touch down
fairly fast. If you slow the model too much a high sink rate will
develop with reducing elevator effectiveness. This may cause a
heavy landing on the unsprung skid. Should the engine cut out
during the flight, (as can happen occasionally), the model will
glide safely but again maintain plenty of speed on land approach.
My Komet has been flying successfully for
thirteen years. Its first appearance was in 1986 at the
Shepparton Mammoth Model Meeting. The only damage the aircraft
has suffered has been to the landing skid area, which is to be
expected and is easily fixed. I enjoy flying this aircraft more
than any other and I am still fascinated by the flying wing
concept.
When you arrive at the flying field with your
new Komet, and open the throttle for a sharp take off, you can be
sure all eyes will be on your Komet.
An excellent reference source for the Me-163 is
Aircraft Monograph 7, Me163 Komet by B. Belcarz and R.
Peczkowski, published by AJ-Press, Gdynia, Poland. Australian
distributors are A. Klos Ph/fax: (07) 3851 4835
SPECIFICATIONS ME -163B Komet
Scale: 1:4
Wingspan: 2.35 metre
Length: 1.45 metre
Engine: 1.08- 1.20 two stroke
4 channel radio control required with elevon mixer
ME 163B KOMET plans are available from:
Airborne
Plans Service
3 Sheets AU$85.00
plus AU$4.00 P&H1
Moulded Canopy: AU$27.50 plus P&H (AH$6.00 within
Australia).
Plan No. 574
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This page was last modified on the 21-May-02
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