Its pretty immediately obvious this is a two seat version of the well known Me 262 fighter.
Let’s take a quick look at how it came to be and how it was used.
The first prototype of this trainer flew in April 1944. It was conceived especially for bomber units that would be training on the new type. I believe the feeling was that these guys would be learning both a new type and a new role, as opposed to the fighter units who were already for comfortable with solo flying and combat tactics.
The armament of four Mk 108 30 mm cannon was retained. The cockpit was lengthened to provided full dual controls, with the expectation the front seat would mostly be used by the student. This did lead to some rearranging of fuel, a rear fuselage tank was removed and forward tanks enlarged. But this still resulted in a loss of about half of fuel capacity, so all 2-seat Me 262s were equipped with racks for drop tanks on the forward fuselage.
All 70 Me 262B-1 aircraft were converted from Me 262A-1 fighters. Deliveries started in September 1944. Most were assigned to KG51 and KG54, bomber units converting to the jet fighter. It had already been decided by this date that the bomber units would become fighter units on receiving their new mounts.
There were also two seat night fighter variants of the Me 262, the first dozen (exact number unknown) were converted from the trainers as Me 262B-1a/U1. Only two of the intended production model Me 262B-2a were completed.
This particular aircraft was assigned to KG 54 and was delivered in early November. It flew with the group in Bavaria, I see no indication of its final fate.
This is the HobbyBoss kit. It is definitely not as much fun to build as the Tamiya kit! But apart from some fit issues it builds into an acceptable replica.
Plane Dave 
Nice article and model, congrats on retirement! I went early and apart from occasional feelings of guilt – that include applying for the odd job now and then – haven’t looked back! Haven’t necessarily done more modelling though….
I’m loving it! Although I get the guilt, my wife is a few years younger and I just can’t see her retiring very soon.
This last year I seem to be full blast busy all the time, even with other hobbies I neglected for a while. So no doubt my model building has slowed down a bit. But slowed down should never mean stopped! More to come…
Glad you are back Plane Dave.
That was a long gap! But a couple of tricky builds with less time to work… and it all got to be a while.
I should have the Thunderbolt up next week.
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Always informative. Beautiful model. Fortunately, the Nazis mismanaged its application to their war effort.
Thank you much!
I think the 262 was only ever considered “operational” because of German desperation. They simply could not make an engine that would last 100 hours, they lacked all access to metals and alloys that could make it work.
Galland commented after the War, when commanding the Argentine Air Force flying Gloster Meteors, that while 262 was a great performer the Meteor was a much more practical plane to build an air force around.
Again, you’ve added to my understanding. Thank you.