Broom Hill 109

[tc2324]

So here`s the kit I`m entering for this Group Build....,

.... and I was initially going to finish it in another unit`s scheme. I hate the fact that the swastika is sometimes missing from kits, although I do understand as to why if has to be.

However in the case of `white 12` which crashed at Broom Hill, Strood, near Rochester, Kent on Monday 30th September 1940, it seems there was a very valid reason with a good story and a perfect option for another diorama build.

I quote...,

The following photos below of the downed aircraft on Broom Hill are shown with a soldier standing in front of the tail section of the aircraft, this is because in the interest of morale he was possibly obscuring the kill markings recording the number of enemy planes the pilot had shot down. This Aircraft had 8 kill markings present, all of which were earned by this particular aircrafts former pilot Feldwebel Hermann Neuhoff, who was at this time the only pilot of 7./JG53, who had 8 kills. Also the Swastika is placed in an unofficial position on the tail. The interrogation reports of several captured pilots from JG53 shed some interesting light on the history of the Geschwader's markings. According to these reports, when first formed, the personnel of JG53 adopted as their badge the Ace of Spades, or card of death, and are believed to have worn uniforms with a distinctive cut to show they belonged to an elite unit (in much the same way as RAF fighter pilots denoted their status by leaving the top button of their tunics unfastened). However, in the Summer of 1940 the Geschwader Kommodore of JG53 was Major Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel. While JG53 was making a reputation for itself during the Battle of Britain, according to RAF Air Ministry intelligence summary no 60, Reichsmarshall Hermann Göring was informed that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel's wife was Jewish. Göring then ordered the whole of JG53 to remove the "Pik As" emblem from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling as punishment. All of JG53's planes were immediately stripped of their "Pik As" insignia. Soon after the whole of JG53 stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes in protest. During this phase of the Battle of Britain, JG 53's planes were easily recognizable because of the red band and the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf109's. On 30 September 1940, the day that this aircraft was shot down Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn became Kommodore and JG53.

So it would seem this unit did not indeed bare the swastika as a form of protest.

However on closer inspection it would seem it was visible close up.

You can`t say I`ve not done my homework on this.

On to the kit and I have to say I`m quite impressed.

Two large sprues with lots of options and the detail seems spot on. The destructions are also nicely set out.

..... and with the last 24 hours being a fun filled wet fest with the next 24 hours looking much the same out of my window, here`s where I am with it now.

It`s all still WIP and mostly tacked together for the camera.

The pilot figure has had quite a bit of `surgery`. Head came off and was rotated. The hand on the arm pointing skywards was also cut off and turned 180 so it looks like he is pushing open the canopy. The other arm has been glued at a funny angle so it gives the impression he is leaning on the canopy ledge. The prop has also been `manipulated` so that it looks like it`s caught the earth when the aircraft belly landed in.

More soon.

[Smiffy]

Ohh, I'll keep an interested eye on this one. Would like to have a go at this a/c myself.I used to walk to school via Broom Hill, every day.

[modelling minion]

Nice choice of subject, and great research, as you say you have definitely done your homework on the markings.

Looking forward to seeing this one come together.

Craig.

[PhantomBigStu]

Look forwards to it TC, little surprised your not doing a 74sqn spit then again I bet you've done every serial number ever to serve with 74 twice

[Mottlemaster]

I like your subject . Lucky to have pics of both sides . Will be following your build .

[Ozzy]

Looks a nice kit, fantastic progress.

Ozzy

[tc2324]

Cheers all.

With work getting in the way of my model making, (how rude), I`ve managed to only complete a few tasks including the unkindest cut of all.

On the plus side, being stuck in the office has left me to research making a cheap home made muddy field dio base which I`m quite looking forward to making.

Here`s a new `concept` shot with the updates.

[Mottlemaster]

The break is around the fuel tank position so there is scope for doing a fuel in wet mud /water rainbow effect

[tc2324]

Today`s `action` was all about the base, (..isn`t that a song??).

The `109 landed on a bit of land that was used to grow vegetables, so in effect it was just a muddy field and I needed to recreate something looking like that.

I wanted something quick and economical as well, so a quick trip to the DIY store was in order.

Here are the protagonists....

Obviously the MIG Mud was an Evilbay purchase, but I don`t want to plaster this thread in mundane photo`s. The filler and brown paint cost me approx £6 if IIRC.

So first things first.

I cut a bit of board to size and then added and smoothed out the filler onto the board using a damp bit of kitchen roll. This was then left for about 20 mins. In the mean time and for god`s sake don`t tell the SWMBO, I went outside and scraped off some of the pebble dashing from the exterior. These were then scattered and lightly pushed into the filler. The idea was to add a few lumps and it all ended up looking like this.

After an hour of baking in the sun it was time to add paint.

Now the Nut Brown paint was not a bad product. Cheap, quick drying and easy to use, you end up with this which for all intents and purposes looks like a chocolate cake or a very wet bit of mud. (The 109 was added for scale)

Next came the MIG product.....,

Chocolate mousse anyone??

This was dry brushed on to the higher ridges so that it looked like it had dried out mud. This looks like a good product and easy to use and I`m looking forward to using it again in due course on a tank.

....... and after a few hours to dry/cure it`s turned out like this.

I don`t think the artificial light has helped and I`m going to look at how it can be toned down more tomorrow.

Also in the shot is the finished rudder with the painted over Swastika as mentioned in the OP.

Cheers for looking and more soon.

[tc2324]

Sorted out the glossy look by giving the base a light spray of Humbrol dark earth. Much better in my opinion and it`s stopped looking like a massive brownie....

The kit is also coming on well.

[Mottlemaster]

Thanks for the breakdown of your base construction . im now going to have a look at the mig mud.

[tc2324]

Apologies for these update pics looking a bit `samey` but decals are on and to give the break in the fuselage a bit of texture, I`ve used tin foil.

Time for the fiddly bits.

[tc2324]

Calling this one done now.

Bf109E-4
7./JG53
WerkNr. 5175
Unteroffizier Ernst Poschenrieder
Force Landed Broom Hill in Kent
Monday 30th September 1940

[Ozzy]

Looking good, he looks one lucky chap.