Ju 88 A I./LG 1 Wappen Kommodore Friedrich-Karl Knust - ebay photo find #213

Ju 88 A der I./LG 1 mit dem Gruppenwappen  - links FF Uffz Hans Neidhold im Gespräch mit dem Kommodore Oberst Friedrich-Karl Knust

I./LG 1 pilot Uffz. Hans Neidhold (left) seen in conversation with Kommodore Knust (October 1940 -Feb 1942)

On offer here

RS Models Messerschmitt Me 309 in 72nd scale - build review

Left; Romain Hugault cover image  Le Fana issue  463 - article by KarlHeinz Kenz.

The jet-powered Me 262 prototype first flew in July 1942- over one year after the piston-engined Me 262 - but the turbojets were immature and other design features were primitive to say the least. As a fighter the 262 failed to capture the attention of the RLM who had already been ordered to stop development of most new types. With limited support for his jet project Messerschmitt pursued development of his piston-engine designs. The Me 309 V1 first flew in July 1942 in Augsburg. The Me 309 series was intended to supplant the 109 G in production and incorporated some of the latest developments in fighter aircraft design - wide-track tricycle gear, pressurised cockpit with ejector seat. Ultimately however performance enhancements over the Gustav proved minimal. In addition delays with the DB 603 engine hampered testing. The nose wheel was designed to pivot through 90 degrees to lay flat but slow retraction times blocked air flow to the radiator causing over-heating problems. Snaking at high speeds required the incorporation of an enlarged tail/rudder for better directional stability. Four prototypes were tested with the V-4 flying in late 1943 (IIRC) but Galland ordered development of the type suspended. An interesting type (not Luft '46) but the Me 309 was essentially a stop-gap caught between two generations of aircraft.

The new-tool RS Models Messerschmitt Me 309 is a neat model. The finely engraved panel lines are a big advance on the old Huma kit but some of the smaller parts lack decent definition. Short-run fit problems are par for the course and I had a bit of trouble lining up the fuselage halves. Below; I have cut out the rudder and horizontal stabilisers. The ventral radiator is neatly molded  and the kit comes with alternative tails and wingtips and some armament options, not used in my build. Note that I cut the canopy into three parts to show the folding hood and also achieved a much better fit of the windshield. Decals are incredibly thin and much care needs to be taken. As it was I ended up using V1 codes on a late airframe.  Note the 262 'elements' of the design - the tricycle gear, the 'clear vision' canopy albeit here with heavy framing.

I./JG 51 FOCKE WULF FW 190 "white 6" -ebay photo find #212

via Manuel Rauh ebay sales here

new Print Scale Decals for black Me 110s

new Print Scale decals for Me 110 "night fighter and interceptor aces"

Available at  the print scale site here

Also on this blog - a page of early NJG black schemes for the Bf 110
http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/bf-110-night-fighters-of-njg-1-njg-2.html

Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann "Panzerjagdstaffeln" in 1/48 (Special Hobby 48189)

Latest Special Hobby release

Above; Bücker Bü 181 'Bestmann' WNr 501659 was built in Czechoslovakia in early 1944 and served at the FFS A/B 23 in Kaufbeuren with the Kennung RM+HE where it was converted to mount Panzerfaust bazookas in the final weeks of the war. Today it is exhibited at the Deutsche Technik Museum in Berlin. Photo courtesy Marc Hasenbein.

Below; first published in the Modell Magazin issue of 3/83 this was for a long time the only known photo of a fully-armed Panzerfaust-toting Bücker Bü 181 'Bestmann' seen here undergoing trials with the Panzerfaust Versuchskommando (test detachment) at Trebbin on 01 April 1945.

Also on this blog;

Bückers with bazookas - Bü 181 'Bestmann' mit Panzerfäusten

Audembert, March 1942 Fw 190 JG 26 Kommodore machine - ebay photo find #211

Auf einem Feldflugplatz im Westen - ' at an airfield in the West', cover feature in Der Adler 01-1942. Goering's visit to JG 26 at Audembert on the Kanalfront, 5 December 1941 to announce Galland's appointment as General der Jagdflieger. At the time Galland was the most 'successful' Jagdflieger on the Kanalfront with 95 victory claims..

According to the inscription on the reverse of the image this is Kommodore Schöpfel's machine. Awarded the RK in September 1940, he was appointed Kommodore JG 26 in December 1941. Priller replaced Schöpfel at the head of JG 26 in January 1943 - on offer here

Also on this blog;
Der Reichsmarschall bei Oberst Galland

Kommandeur I./ZG 76 Hptm. Günter Reinecke - Jever, German Bight, Marienkäfer ladybird emblem 2./ZG 76

Established in Pardubitz in May 1939 I./ZG 76 was re-named as II./NJG 1 in September 1940. Kommandeur I./ZG 76 until his death in combat on 30 April 1940 was Hptm. Günter Reinecke (below, middle) who flew Bf 110 C 'Doppelwinkel M8+AB'. Reinecke was brought down off the coast of Norway by the defensive fire of the Blenheim he was attacking. He was replaced by Hptm. Werner Restemeyer (lost in Bf 110 D "M8+AB" over the North Sea off Newcastle on 15 August 1940) (via the Luftwaffe officer career summaries resource here)

Based in Jever in late 1939 the crews of I./ZG 76 - including Helmut Lent, Gordon Gollob and the Staka 2./ZG 76 Wolfgang Falck - were successful over the German Bight on 18 December 1939 against RAF medium bombers.

Below; a pre-sortie briefing in front of the Bf 110 C assigned to the Gruppenadjutant Oblt. Hans Jäger in Stavanger-Sola, April 1940. This aircraft, on the strength of the Stab I./ZG 76, wore the code (Kennung) chevron M8+CB



via Michael Meyer's Ebay sales here

Below;  a 2./ZG 76 Bf 110 C displaying the unit’s Marienkäfer ladybird emblem seen in Jever in December 1939. In the cockpit is Lt. Maximilian Gräff, who returned his second victory during the German Bight raid of 18 December 1939, claiming a Wellington 25 km. NW. of Borkum. Gräff was KIA that same month.