The Messerschmitt Bf. 109 single
seat fighter was the most famous German fighter of W.W.2 and she was produced in
greater numbers than any other aircraft in that war. The ‘F’ version (the best
of all) in 1942 was replaced by the G version. This version – which was to be built in
larger numbers than all the others combined, was in some respects inferior to the
earlier a/c. In spite of being fitted with a slightly more powerful engine, the so
famous Daimler-Benz D.B.605A, she was heavier and slower than her previous
models. Her armament was far better and consisted of one 20mm MG.151 cannon
firing through the propeller hub, two MG. 131 machine-guns on the cowling and
sometimes another two 21cm rockets beneath the wings for her anti-raid
interception role.
Click on
images below to see larger images
THE MODEL. This is, in fact,
the second half of my previous work (see: “Frog Torbeau”) in which I
built an Airfix “Dogfight-Double” series box of the Me. 109 &
Beaufighter, replacing this latter with the far better Frog counterpart.
Yes, the Airfix Bf.109 has seen far
better days so far but I just love it because it was my first Messerschmitt I built when – as child – I’ started my modeller’s career, in
long ago 1972. Today I’ve much better kits also, like the top-scoring Hasegawa one,
along with the quite good Italeri sample. But this particular kit is fine to me
because of its “memorabilia aura” that is still bearing. Perhaps it is
interesting to know that another two “versions” (read: clones) of this box
appeared around the beginning of the ‘70s, the 1/48 one by the Starfix firm and the
very nice and much improved 1/72 Polistil version (“Polikit KA3”),
this latter released around 1975.
My model, an original Airfix sample,
was built OOB, except for the propeller blades and the wheels, replaced by far
better resin copies by a friend of mine and the scratch-built cockpit. The
colours, all in the Humbrol range are RLM74/74/76 which I matched with
Humbrol 32, 125 and 127 respectively. In this configuration this is the
Messerschmitt 109 per antonomasia for my humble opinion (and taste!).
Happy modelling to all the site’s
friends!
Paolo De Sanctis
|