1/48 Airfix Bf-109E

Gallery Article by Richard Spreckley  on Feb 5 2014

 

 

1/48 Messerschmitt Bf-109E RAF captured

This is the lovely Airfix Club special Edition 1:48 BF109 - E in RAF colours. A new tooling with great detail, this was an OOB build with no scratch building. I used Vallejo Air dark brown and grey green. Weathering and wash was with Vallejo dark wash and Tamiya pigments. The model was then sealed with a coat of 'clear'.

 

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The kit went together sublimley. No filling or any external work needed. With the option of an open engine cowling, showing off a nicely detailed engine, which could be enhanced with a bit of home help, leading edge slats and poseable ailerons, this kit offers a wealth of different poses for all tastes. I didn't want to show this as a clean model, as the limited number of reference photos showed it a bit brown around the edges, which I am guessing was from continious evaluation and testing by the RAF. 

12/31/2010. Several Bf 109 E's were captured intact by the French shortly after the outbreak of war in September 1939. They were taken at once to the flight test center at Bricy near Orleans and were the subject of very thorough descriptive and brief performance by the French Aeronautical Service. At the conclusion of the French trials at least two Bf 109 E's, still in French markings, were sent to the A&AEE, by then at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, England, UK, having transferred there from Martlesham Heath, Suffolk upon the outbreak of the war.

This aircraft was captured on November 22, 1939. After experiencing engine problems, Feldwebel (Sergeant) Karl Heir of I/JG76 belly-landed the Bf 109 E3 (marked White 1) near Wœrth, Elzas Bas-Rhin. It was handed over to the RAF on May 2, 1940, and arrived at Boscombe Down on the following day, escorted by a Husdon and three Blenheims. It was serialed AE479 and much of the subsequent evaluation was carried out by Flying Officer J.E. Pebody.

It is most likely the photo of the aircraft was taken during a flight from Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, UK, in 1941 after a new tail unit and a later-type canopy had been fitted, following an accident at the A&AEE at Boscombe Down on January 5, 1941. After extensive trials the aircraft was sent to the USA in April 1942, it was lost in a crash at Wright Field on Novmber 3, 1942. 

Richard Spreckley

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Photos and text © by Richard Spreckley