1/72 scratchbuilt BFW/Messerschmitt M-21a (1928)

by Matías Hagen

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With a view to the creation of an aviation-military and secret (in the context of the Germany Treaty of Versailles) orders are prepared for a basic trainer to improve the performance of the Udet U-12 Flamingo, but a special emphasis on maintaining the configuration biplane. Sort of request to which he was also added to a bomber, both will fall into the hands of Willy Messerschmitt.
Both the bombe
r, M-22, as the trainer, M-21, will be the only biplanes that come out of the boards of Prof. Messerschmitt.

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Based on the BFW-3 Marabu, the M-21 will a metal pipe welded structure, on N strutts, the wings, Messerschmitt-style, entirely covered in plywood, becoming both those for foldaway rear towards a better storage, and compared to U-12, M-21 will incorporate an improved landing gear.
Three versions are projected with different engine, but will be concrete only two: the M-21a engine with Siemens Sh-11 7-cyl. And the M-21b which is equipped with a Siemens Sh-12, 9-cyl.


Presented between August and September 1928, the M-21 was able to overcome some of the performance that came to replace. But despite having a better ceiling height with a lighter weight and greater speed, perhaps out of the fact that the advanced production was the U-12, and that with alone renewed its power plant by a Siemens Sh-12 their yields were still higher (taking into account the natural conditions that had the Udet for acrobatics).
Thus, after the successive evaluations M-21a and b never completed the move from prototype stage.

In early 1929 the Messerschmitt M-21a will be incorporated into civilian use. Being registered with the D-1566, starts operating in the DVS GmbH in 1933 until it was destroyed in an accident.

Modelling process

Some months ago I began to seek some little plane, more or less square, but that was within the "20ty30ty" to do something simple and quick to try and scratch within a few things that I had not done yet.
Well, the work was not as simple and quick, but I was satisfied with the result that some things a pair years ago only had been only happened to order from Poland or Czech Republic....

Scale:
1/72
Technique: scratch.
Materials: mostly plastic (1mm, 0.5mm, and 0.3mm styrene sheets), a little resin on the parts to duplicate, and any other sewing needle (but selected in the 0.3mm) for the axles.
Painting: In general, I used 34, and 11 and 135 (mixed both) of Humbrol, rudder and ailerons of tail 89 of Humbrol and 124 of Molak ...... Everything according to the interpretion of photos in black and white (although lately the doubt if has entered me the back would not shine a tone slanting wood .....).
Title: BFW/Messerschmitt M-21a.
Pictures: to enjoy....

Matías

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Photos and text © by Matías Hagen

(something more  http://picasaweb.google.es/matihagen/MesserschmittM21 )