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AZ Models Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6, Slovak Air Force


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The small but professional Slovak Air Force had operated Bf109’s from early 1942 when they flew their E models as 13.(slowak)JG52. In time, the E models were replaced with G2 and G4’s. The Slovak pilots were heavily involved in the bitter fighting over the southern sector of the Eastern Front, until they were withdrawn to Slovakia at the end of 1943. By this time, when the aircraft were handed back to the Germans, they were worn out as well as being outclassed by newer Soviet fighters.

 

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Early in 1944, the Slovaks received 15 Bf 109-G6. These were ex-Luftwaffe, as opposed to newly built and had seen considerable service before the Slovaks took them over. The aircraft were finished in the standard RLM 74/75/76, with Slovak insignia painted over the German markings. The fuselage codes and swastikas were overpainted with a dark colour. This is reported to have been RLM 75, but appears to have been much darker – the contrast between this and the actual RLM 75 is very much greater than seems reasonable, even allowing for fading.

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The Slovaks were drawn into the fight against the USAAF in the summer of 1944. In their first engagement, the Slovaks didn’t make contact with the bomber stream. Some Luftwaffe officers outright accused the Slovaks of cowardice, and in their next engagement, the Slovaks went out to make sure they engaged the enemy.

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The 13. Letka, referred to as the “Readiness Squadron” launched eight fighters. These, in conjunction with 203 German machines and 30 more of the Royal Hungarian Air Force, attacked over 650 B17 and B24 bombers, escorted by nearly 300 P38’s and P51’s.

 

The result was exactly what might have been expected. The Slovaks, despite being highly experienced combat fliers, were cut to pieces. All eight of their fighters were shot down. Three pilots were killed and another wounded so badly that he never flew again. As a functional combat unit, the squadron ceased to exist.

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White 2 had been flown by various pilots, but on that day it was in the hands of Zastavnik (warrant officer) Jozef “Jozo” Stauder. Stauder had scored 12 kills against the Soviets, but was shot down in his first combat against the Americans. Luckier than than his peers, he was unwounded, but White 2 was hit in the radiator and prop by fire from a Mustang and made a forced landing near the village of Ivanka on the Danube. Stauser survived the war, later working as a truck driver.

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The kit is an AZ models Bf 109-G6. There’s a school of thought that these are too shallow in the nose area, so I applied a fix I found on the internet, involving adding a fillet below the exhausts then moving the lower wing downwards to fit. It’s relatively simple and I think it does help, so I’ll be applying it to the other two of these I have (the joys of a Joypack!). I added seatbelts and buckles to the fairly comprehensive kit cockpit, although very little is visible, plus fuse wire brake pipes and an EZ-Line aerial. Markings are a mixture of Blue Rider (national markings), Fantasy Printshop (codes) and Print Scale (stencils). The paints are Tamiya mixes, well dulled with oil washes. There are quite a few photos of the Slovak aircraft, and their appearance is dingy and well-worn even at the best of times. The Slovaks were at the end of a long and frankly miserly supply chain, and probably thought themselves lucky to have lubricants, coolant and ammunition, never mind paint. There is a reason for the fairly abundant exhaust stains (clearly visible in photos): late-war German fuel was of marginal quality, and left a good deal of residue.

 

 

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Hi Mitch,

 

another one of your beautifully built aircraft from these huge eastern European air forces, just like you love them!

I dare say the Slovakian markings are the most colorful of the lot, and color is everything!

 

Well done. So what will the next G-6 hail from? Bordurian air force would be a good start indeed.

 

Have fun

JR

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2 hours ago, jean said:

Hi Mitch,

 

another one of your beautifully built aircraft from these huge eastern European air forces, just like you love them!

I dare say the Slovakian markings are the most colorful of the lot, and color is everything!

 

Well done. So what will the next G-6 hail from? Bordurian air force would be a good start indeed.

 

Have fun

JR

I'm already on with a Hungarian G-6, a Romanian G-2 and a Croatian G-10. I've got plans for more from Bulgaria and even the Luftwaffe!:rofl:

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56 minutes ago, Mitch K said:

I'm already on with a Hungarian G-6, a Romanian G-2 and a Croatian G-10. I've got plans for more from Bulgaria and even the Luftwaffe!:rofl:

Hi Mitch,

do not drop your standards! Modelling a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt would be in very poor taste indeed. Stick to the better known air forces.

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3 minutes ago, jean said:

Hi Mitch,

do not drop your standards! Modelling a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt would be in very poor taste indeed. Stick to the better known air forces.

Ah, but it's an unusual-looking Luftwaffe Messer!

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9 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

Nice build and interesting story behind it.

Good fix on the nose too - looks fine to me now.

Thanks Ed. It's an easy fix, so I'd advise anyone quibbling over not buying these kits because of the shallow nose to go ahead, buy them and do this. The diversity of schemes for the 109G is vast, so why not indulge?:rofl:

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