Luftwaffe modelling - new tool Revell Bf 109 G-6 early and late versions in 1/32nd scale (04665) and new tool Airfix Fw 190 A-8 in 1:72nd scale

A little preview of what you get in the box for less than £20 (GBP) with this nice new tool Revell Bf  109 G-6 (early and late versions) in 1/32nd scale - the first thing that struck me on opening the box were all the rudders, both early and late, small and tall; there is even a Flettner-tabbed tall rudder that at first sight doesn't appear in the instructions as far as I can see - ah yes, probably Hauptmann Franz Dörr's machine, time to retrieve the Mombeeck JG 5 history from the shelf. By the way, see elsewhere on this blog my article "contending with torque" for a piece on tall-tailed Bf 109s.

Its a shame you can't do a G-6/AS straight from the box without a bit of work but no doubt this and other variants will be along soon enough or available with the help of the  after-market concerns..

Aside from a selection of 'poseable' rudder options, here's what is in the kit;

- alternative cockpit parts including different cannon breech covers and battery box option on the shelf behind the pilot's head
- both early framed and Erla Haube canopies with different windscreen versions
- long and short tail wheels and treaded and smooth tyres
- alternate starboard side engine cowls
- Morane mast and DF loop for late versions
- separate control surfaces
- two decal options, Kommandeur JG 5 Franz Dörr and Gkr. II./ JG 51 Karl Rammelt. BTW rafiger.de depicts Dörr's aircraft incorrectly as a G-14 and gives him 128 victories, instead of 122.

The cockpit comprises some 20 parts and includes the fuel line for the starboard cockpit wall as a transparent part so that the clear view cut-out - which the pilot used to detect the first air bubbles and thus the tank emptying - can simply be masked off for painting. Harness straps are moulded on the seat pan and rear bulkhead and look quite good.. 

Also noticeable are the upper wing bulges which are NOT stick-on parts but feature in situ on the inner wing panels. The forward fuselage is basically an empty frame into which various panels can be dropped - but I can't see how these will fall along 'natural' panel lines. The quality of the surface engraving is impressive. Various filler hatches NOT required for a G-6 will have to be filled, but at least these indicate that later variants are likely to follow eg  the filler hatch for the GM 1, nitrous oxide power boost system or the MW 50 methanol/water power boost system. MW 50 was not slated for use on the Bf 109 G-6 - in fact a Bf 109 G-6 with MW 50 was essentially a Bf 109 G-14.  GM 1 was used on some Bf 109 G-6 aircraft engaged in high altitude interception duties, though it is more usually associated with the pressurised versions of the G series.. The multi-part wheel wells will no doubt look very good too. Difficult to formulate any real criticisms without building the model, but I can see that the various cowl scoops are all solid and the split between the front and back of the spinner does not fall on a natural panel line so that will be a job to eliminate. The choice of decal subjects is not exactly stellar IMHO but that will hardly be a problem - there is a decal for the instrument panel too. Are the cowl bulges a little under-sized ? are the prop blades a little too 'fat' and not perfectly shaped? Possibly ...but difficult to tell really- certainly the Beulen certainly don't seem to be as 'bulbous' or bulge along the top of the fuselage as they should..

Given Revell's pricing policy this kit should do very well and no doubt we'll be taking a few weeks off here to build one or two - it certainly has the edge on the Hasegawa effort in this scale for detail in most areas, especially the cockpit, the undercarriage and general outline accuracy.

If you haven't seen it already then there is much more detail on this kit with an excellent write-up for modellers at the large scale planes forum

http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/1238-revell-132-messerschmitt-bf-109g-6-early-and-late/

Lots of pictures here - plundered from a variety of sources...

Revell new tool G-6 in 1:32nd scale  - an unrivalled level of detail

Before we attack this kit, just time to put together the new-tool Airfix Fw 190 A-8 in 1:72nd scale - to be honest I have some difficulty raising much enthusiasm for a new-tool Fw 190 from Airfix (even though " FalkeEins -the Luftwaffe blog " was consulted by Airfix during the process of development and conception), after all their old one wasn't that bad even with its raised lines and lack of breech covers ( plus I have about 20 Revell, Hasegawa, Italeri and Academy Fw 190s on the shelf already in his scale ). This latest Airfix effort though appears to be very neatly done, is a bargain at £5.99 (GBP) and most importantly perhaps the canopy can be depicted open! And rudder pedals in an Airfix 1/72nd scale kit, must be a first. I've probably built my last Revell Fw 190 Anton in this scale then! There is a bulged canopy too but no late head armour to go with it. The one decal option is a JGr. 10 machine with snake or Schlange motif...
(click on the images to get in closer..)

more on Schlangenschwarm Fw 190s on this blog

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/more-schlangenschwarm-3jgr-10-fw-190.html

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/history-of-3jgr-10-stopsack-article-in.html

Incidentally all (64) Luftwaffe-related modelling articles on this blog can be accessed together via this one link

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Luftwaffe%20models

Daily Luftwaffe Ebay photo find - some current offers

No idea who "airpics" is (Postlethwaite?) but he always comes up with some gems...

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Negativ-MESSERSCHMITT-Bf110-Emblem-/231026341972?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1120

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Foto-JUNKERS-Ju188-Beute-/231026335981?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1120

and this nice Hohentweil equipped He 111 achieved 222 euros here

A selection from Manuel Rauh at engelbubu fotos, including a nice Fw 189 photo series

http://www.ebay.de/sch/m.html?item=370867978553&ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AGB%3A1120&_ssn=engelbubu-fotos&_pgn=4&_skc=150&rt=nc

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Me110-Flugzeug-Zerstorer-Wespen-Geschwader-Kennung-Bf110-plane-Technik-TOP-/141026821120?pt=Militaria&hash=item20d5da8400

http://www.ebay.de/itm/orig-WK2-PK-FLUGZEUG-FOTO-MESSERSCHMITT-Me-Bf-110-ZERSTORER-STAFFEL-MALING-/141023277953?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1120

Oblt. Franz Barten & Uffz. Heinz Girnth of III./ JG 53, July 1944 Lippspringe

Currently on offer via Michael Meyer's Ebay sales is this better quality repro of Uffz. Heinz Girnth's "schwarze 11" of III./ JG 53 (8.Staffel) photographed at Bad Lippspringe during July 1944 where the Gruppe was based on Reich's defence duties and shown on this blog just a few days ago.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaffe-Flugzeug-Me-109-G-6-schwarze-11-8-JG-53-Lippspringe-Juli-1944-/380686337464?pt=Militaria&hash=item58a2ac85b8

Girnth's Bf 109 G-6 "Black 11" is profiled by Thierry Dekker in part IV of Jean-Louis Roba's history of JG 53 (Lela Presse, July 2013). Girnth survived the war and filed some 11 victory claims. Informal snapshot of the same pilot, below..

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaffe-Flugzeug-9-JG-53-Flugzeugfuhrer-Uffz-Heinz-Girnth-Lippspringe-/380683629886?pt=Militaria&hash=item58a283353e

 Above, a different view of a well-known photo depicting Uffz. Heinz Girnth in front of another Erla-Haube fitted G-6 at Bad Lippspringe, July 1944.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaffe-Flugzeug-Me-109-G-6-der-9-JG-53-Bad-Lippspringe-Juli-1944-/380686337647?pt=Militaria&hash=item58a2ac866f

Below; pilots of 9./JG 53 photographed in April 1944 on the airfield at Tuscania. From left, the Staffelhund "Bello",  Staffelkapitän  Oblt Franz Barten, Uffz. Robert Harder, Uffz. Paul Mang and Uffz. Heinz Girnth.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaffe-Flugzeug-9-JG-53-Franz-Barten-RK-Flugzeugfuhrer-Tuscania-1944-/380683629954?pt=Militaria&hash=item58a2833582

Barten is another of those virtually unknown 50+ Jagdwaffe aces. He flew with 2./JG 77 at the outbreak of WWII and took part in the Westfeldzug and the Battle of Britain and returned three victories before I./JG 77 was redesignated IV./JG 51 in October 1940. By the end of 1941 flying in the East he had achieved some 25 victories. He was wounded in action during November 1942 with his score at 42 and did not return to combat flying until June 1943 when he was posted to 7./JG 53. He became Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 53 in July 1943 with the death of previous incumbent Oblt. Hans Roehrig on 13 July 1943. Having returned some 55 victories (Meyer gives him 52 ) in 895 combat sorties, Franz Barten was shot down and killed by P-47 Thunderbolts on 4 August 1944, apparently 'murdered' while hanging under his parachute, after being strafed by his victors. His chute came down in the vicinity of Reinsehlen. Two of his 55 'kills' were B-24s over Italy during 1943. He was awarded a posthumous RK on 24 October 1944 and promoted to Hptm..

Herbert Maxis' Bf 109 G 'white 13' IV./ JG 53 - Bodenplatte 01/01/1945

part rebuild, part replica of Herbert Maxis' Bf 109 G-14 'white 13' of IV./ JG 53 (WNr. 784998) photographed at the Aviaticum museum, Wiener Neustadt Ost near Vienna, Austria where it has been on display since 2006 as a "G-6". Photographs courtesy of photographer Ray Barber. Thank you very much Ray!

The original machine -built by Mtt Regensberg- was lost during the Bodenplatte operation of New Years Day 1945 - the pilot managed to get his machine down in one piece in an orchard close to a US anti-aircraft position but was promptly shot dead. Having been stripped by souvenir hunters, the wreckage was later bulldozed into a hole in the ground and dug up during 1987.  This is, I believe, the only Bf 109 in Austria today - in their 2007/02 issue Flugzeug Classic called this exhibit a memorial tribute to the Wiener Neustadt facility which was ultimately responsible for the production of some 8,000 or so of these machines during WW II.

 On 1 January 1945, during operation Bodenplatte JG 53 had orders to attack the airfield at Frescaty near Metz. Before reaching the target Uffz. Herbert Maxis took hits from an American anti-aircraft position (the 455th AAA  Bn., 'A' Battery) stationed at Oberfelsberg. Maxis force landed only 200 yards from the American positions and was shot and killed climbing down from the cockpit - "assassiné" as Roba puts it in part IV of his history of JG 53. In some accounts the gun battery crew are reported to have believed the German was going to pull a pistol although he may have been merely pressing his hand against a body wound. Pte Billy Taylor of the 739th FA Bn;

"..the pilot carried out a perfect belly landing. Before I could get to the aircraft the pilot was shot dead and his flight tunic pulled off the body. He was lying in a pool of blood across the port wing root, his arms stretched out over his head. He had thick black hair, looked about 20 years old, perhaps less, and bore a strange resemblance to one of my cousins. He had been shot by one of my friends, Smith, as he was getting out of the aircraft. A grave registration detail took away the body and the next day, officers from HQ came to question Smith - they didn't think much of the fact that a German pilot had been shot in cold blood and left lying in his underwear. There was talk of a courts martial but this idea was quickly abandoned when the brass learnt that the pilot had opened up on us at low altitude with everything he'd got.."

The two images above show that what looks like damage from anti-aircraft fire in the image immediately above (see the caption in Weal's 'Bf 109 Aces') - especially in the fuselage area -seems merely to have been the result of the activities of 'souvenir hunters'. Luftwaffe blog readers may be aware that the cockpit and wing incorporated into the Flugmuseum Aviaticum exhibit are original items from this aircraft - WNr. 784998 (G-14/AS). 

A history of Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik As' part 4 - Batailles Aériennes 65 Jean-Louis Roba

Just published from Lela Presse is the fourth and final part of Jean-Louis Roba's history of JG 53 in the usual 98-page A-4 soft cover format, content covers the period July 1943 to the final sorties flown during April 1945. Detailed accounts (French language) and pilot bios illustrated with plenty of rare photos and Flugbuch extracts. Even non-French speaking enthusiasts and modellers of my acquaintance snap these up for the 200 photos and 20 Thierry Dekker artworks for 12 euros. Highly recommended to all, contact Sylvie at http://avions-bateaux.com for your copy...Previous issues in this series have been extensively reviewed on this blog, see, for example, the following coverage devoted to part 2 ..
http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/history-of-jagdgeschwader-53-pik-as.html


Above, Bf 109 G-6 "black 11" flown by Uffz. Heinz Girnth of 8./ JG 53, Bad Lippspringe in late July 1944. Yellow lower cowl and rudder.

Contents-  
The « Pik As » and 'Husky'  (10 July – 17 August 1943)
Italian capitulation (18 August – 7 September 1943)
The early months of 1944 
The beginning of the end ( June-December 1944)
II./JG 53 over Normandy
II./JG 53 goes back to France
III./JG 53 leaves Italy and returns to the Reich
II. and III./JG 53 during September and October 1944 - hunting the hunters
The establishment of IV./JG 53 and the final months of 1944
I./JG 53 in late 1944
Fighting over Romania
I./JG 53 in Hungary, late 1944
II. and III./JG 53 and 'Bodenplatte', 01 January 1945
III./ JG 53 at Étain
JG 53's attack on Metz-Frescaty
II. and III./JG 53 in 1945
I./JG 53 during 1945
 

Also due from Roba later this year is this 'Avions' magazine special "Luftwaffe rudder markings" and part one of a new unit history series. Issue 1 will cover KG 100. More info as soon as the Lela Presse team return from their summer hols..

new Classic Luftwaffe book " Junkers Ju 88 - From Schnellbomber to Multi-Mission Warplane" (Classic 23) First Look review

On the basis that you might not have seen this yet where you are, here is a quick first look at the latest exceptionally well-done Classic Luftwaffe book title, part one of a new 'landmark' study according to the publisher, of the Junkers Ju 88.  This is a densely-packed 328-page volume covering the " Development, Production and Technical history " of this long-serving Luftwaffe multi-role aircraft compiled by US technical author, engineer and pilot William Medcalf, better known to some as "Artie Bob". The text is well supported by several hundred rare photographs, manufacturer's handbook data and technical illustrations, scale line drawings and colour artwork courtesy of the excellent Simon Schatz and the incomparable Janusz Swaitlon. Medcalf describes the development and gestation of the Ju 88 with emphasis on flight testing and series construction and compares its performance with contemporary aircraft from abroad. The Ju 88 was probably the finest bomber to serve in the Luftwaffe bomber force, but its design, construction and speed meant that it was adaptable as a night-fighter, heavy fighter, torpedo-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. This high-performance aircraft entered service in limited numbers during the campaign over Poland in 1939, but subsequently flew on every battle front on which the Luftwaffe operated throughout World War 2, from the early Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939/40 through to the Mediterranean and the vast Russian theatre. It was known widely as a feared night fighter, " representing the pinnacle of German aeronautical design technology" according to author Medcalf who has researched the type over a forty-year period. 

Posing the question in his introduction " Can a non-German write a good book about a Luftwaffe aircraft ? "   ( to reprise and possibly preempt the comments of the incomparable Peter Achs uttered elsewhere ) the author provides plenty of convincing evidence that they can! Of course Vergleichsmessungen zwischen Leitweik E und A4) is typical of the more "engineering-oriented" approach apparent in this volume devoted to the 'technical' history of the type.

  The Ju 88 served in numbers with the air forces of Finland, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Spain and France and its appeal as a combat aircraft, especially to modellers, is perhaps in large part due to its widely dispersed service. Its variants are also covered in depth - including the entire 188/288/388 family- as is the wide array of armament and equipment with which it was fitted - the Ju 88 A mounting RZ 65 rocket launchers suspended from the ETC racks was new to me. Modellers are well catered for with plenty of detail pics and illustrations along with Simon and Janusz's brilliant profile artwork covering a variety of markings and camouflage schemes - personal favourite here is probably the full-page artwork of the Ju 188 V3 WNr 10008 "ST+GL" that served as GfM Milch's personal transport as painted by Janusz Swaitlon. 

The last chapter "Flying and Fighting the Ju 88, Ju 188 and Ju 388 " (Chapter 14 pages 279-307)  serves as a prequel for the forthcoming volume II entitled " At war -Day and Night ", a work that looks just as exciting by the way. I am also pleased to report ( as a German-speaking enthusiast with a penchant for pilot accounts )  that my very modest contribution to Vol I appears on pages 304/305 with more to come in Vol II..