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Is this the first V-tail in the GB? Hartmann on the Eastern Front, summer 1943...


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I think this might be the first V-tail for the GB.  IT is AZ Model's Me 109G-0.  Not sure how many times it was flown, but Erich Harmann used in 1943 and it looks very cool.  Here's some box art...

 

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Nice profile...

 

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Sprue and decals in a bag...

 

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Decal closeup...

 

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I'll jump in later when it cools down some.  If it cools down some.  

 

--John

 

 

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Standard AZModel cockpit parts assembled.  It's shame it'll all be gone once I close it up.

 

51282809722_8e89f153ee_z_d.jpg

 

Figure I will do this, a point of no return...

 

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And it's done!

 

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--John

 

 

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Another interesting subject John. Nice choice. While I suspect the colour-schemes are purely speculative 'What-if's they're still part of the 109 story and most welcome in our GB :D 

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On 7/4/2021 at 2:09 PM, Col. said:

While I suspect the colour-schemes are purely speculative 'What-if's they're still part of the 109 story and most welcome in our GB :D 

It says on the back of the box that it was flown in 1943 on the Eastern Front.  I'm all for What Ifs (within reason of course) but I would love to have some sort of corroborating evidence of the scheme and perhaps short history of the aircraft.  

 

Aha...

 

http://luftwaffereviews.blogspot.com/2009/05/notes-on-messerschmitt-bf-109-g-0.html

 

Meanwhile, I model on!

 

Tail section...

 

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Attached.  Some filler will be needed, but not much.

 

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And with the stabilizers attached as well.  For future reference, it might be a good idea to use some rod to fix these securely.  They are tough to glue on due to their angles.  Also, the plans have the sprue numbers reversed.  

 

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Obviously the wings are on too...

 

--John

 

 

 

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That's looking great, sir.  If you find out anything about the history of this airframe I'd be interested in what it says.  I'm fond of a 109 but am aware that there's a heck of a lot that I don't know about them.

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AZ commonly include "What If" options, usually in a separate boxing from the more genuine examples.  Sometimes quite reasonable, sometimes amusing, sometimes just silly, in perhaps both meanings of the word.  In the last case I would point to their Seafang in Suez crisis marking: now a Korean War example would have made some sense,  I presume they thought it safe to include the Hartmann option with a subject known to only exist in experimental form.

 

Getting back to reality:  would a G-0 have the wheel bumps in the upper wing anyway?

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13 hours ago, Graham Boak said:

AZ commonly include "What If" options, usually in a separate boxing from the more genuine examples.  Sometimes quite reasonable, sometimes amusing, sometimes just silly, in perhaps both meanings of the word.  In the last case I would point to their Seafang in Suez crisis marking: now a Korean War example would have made some sense,  I presume they thought it safe to include the Hartmann option with a subject known to only exist in experimental form.

 

Getting back to reality:  would a G-0 have the wheel bumps in the upper wing anyway?

 

According to Prien/Rodieke not. From page 84 in Messerschmit Bf 109 F,G & K Series.

 

"Due to the steadily increasing weight of the Bf 109, in late summer 1942 it was decided to increase the size of the aircraft mainwheel. Accordingly, it was decided to install 660 x 160 mainwheels on the G-4 instead of the previosly used 650 x 150 size. It is obvious that the first G-4s recieved the smaller mainwhells of the G-2, while conversly the last G-2s were delivered from the factory with the larger tires of the G-4. The larger tires continued to be mounted on the spoked rims on the G-4 and even rare examples of the later G-6 were to be seen with these."

 

 

Cheers

Jes

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OK.  I have the tyres for this aircraft.  They are included with a separate sprue.  

 

Ready for the canopy to be masked and attached and tomorrow some priming to see the gaps.

 

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--John

 

 

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This one certainly looks to be coming together well John - good progress :thumbsup:  Noticed a considerable off-set of the butterfly tail unit, to counteract engine/propeller torque effect I'd think, is that a feature replicated in the kit?

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On 7/10/2021 at 10:18 AM, Col. said:

is that a feature replicated in the kit?

I think it might have been but I screwed it up and made them symmetrical.  Maybe.  Ooops...

Masked canopy attached.

 

51303062304_d22e4843ef_c_d.jpg

 

--John

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On 7/11/2021 at 9:12 AM, John Masters said:

I think it might have been but I screwed it up and made them symmetrical.  Maybe.  Ooops...

Masked canopy attached.

 

51303062304_d22e4843ef_c_d.jpg

 

--John

Perhaps that feature wasn't needed in the production examples ;) 

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Been slacking off...finally getting around to paint.  RLM76 underneath and along the sides.

 

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The resolution stinks.  Sorry about that.  It's nice and smooth...

 

--John

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The RLM70 went on, then I remasked for the red tail and the yellow wing tips and the underside of the nose.

 

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Not bad.  The yellow (RLM04) covered pretty well without looking too thick.  I like the muted effect.  

 

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And with the canopy uncovered I can see some touchup spots.  No big deal.

 

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--John

 

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