1/12 Messerschmitt Bf 109

The clouds made a great background for flying

Is your Bf 109 plan available somewhere?

Museums were allowed to open here, so I went to the Finnish Air Force Museum. The Bf 109G-6 is one of my favourites there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/perttime/49977556546/in/album-72157714583728373/

Edited By perttime on 13/06/2020 14:30:59

Of course I can send you a plan, you've got a pm from me with details.

In May just after the first Corona relaxations I made some further test flights with the H version. Adjusting servo movements and adding some expo on elevator did the job. The 109 flies fine and is very manouverable. Contests will be interesting with that plane, although that has to wait until 2021 due to Corona. But the normal 109 with the short wing still flies more stable. The 109 tail is very small which is not perfect for a bigger wing. But I'm satisfied!

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 14/06/2020 14:39:35

The other model even smaller than a 109 is the Yokosuka Ohka. I built it last year with a wing span of just 45 cm and a wight of 200 grams. Very easy to fly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIqDFADJiU

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 14/06/2020 14:42:20

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 14/06/2020 14:42:48

Picked up my plan and canopies from the post office yesterday. Having two copies of the parts sheet is a nice touch. I think it will be a while before I start building one.

What is that other plane behind the Bf109? It seems to have a DB engine but the undercarriage retracts inwards?

In my photo?

it is the VL Pyörremyrsky prototype. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VL_Py%C3%B6rremyrsky

My photo is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/perttime/49979462526/in/album-72157714583728373/

Edited By perttime on 02/07/2020 09:35:33

Edited By perttime on 02/07/2020 09:40:27

Thanks for that. Very interesting aeroplane, pity it never got as far as production. Resembles one of the late Japanese fighters as well.

The 109 story still goes on. Finally I have some fine inflight pictures (difficult task for the photographer due to the small model size). And my brother designed and printed a very promising spinner which lasted for several flights, until his Bv 141 and my 109 had a short midair contact during formation flying. Only scratches for him but I had only one of two prop blades left and had to limp my way back to the airfield with reduced power (and shaking motor) and wind from the back.

Timo

It might be designed for Combat competition - but it is certainly scale enough for me.

Thanks
Looks are also fine for me. I'm always thinking about building one in double size. Would be an easy built, light and with 1/6 one of my favourite sizes. Someone did that years ago and it worked fine. But too many other projects are waiting...

On 25th May 1944 there was a low level crash of a P-51 B Mustang and a Bf 109 G over my hometown Botenheim. I learned about the story only a few years ago. American pilot Joe Bennett managed a bailout and German pilot Hubert Heckmann crash landed a few kilometers further. They met shortly afterwards. Through much luck next meeting was 1991, 47 years later. They became friends. I found an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about this story and what can be learned for today:

https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2020/05/25/Dogfight-German-village-Botenheim-clash-eagles-Next-Page-Bill-Zlatos/stories/202005250021

Just recently I learned some facts about the background. Luftwaffe got under big pressure in 1944. Allied fighters, especially long range Mustangs flew missions with the clear goal to combat German fighter planes. Often the Allied bombers were the bait. Luftwaffe planes were produced in high numbers but good pilots got less and less. Training young pilots was shortened and they flew missions with only little hours on front line fighter aircraft. I don't know much details about the flying experience of Hubert Heckmann. But the American flight of Mustangs chased German fighters in South-West Germany and for Heckmann it was only his second combat mission, very nearly his last.

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 04/10/2020 21:47:38

Double size?

I suppose you would need to add a little structure in the wing. Maybe also in the fuselage. Most would want retracts in that size.

The one who built the bigger 109 used a foam cut wing, covered with balsa. I only saw a few pictures, but it seems he didn't change too much concerning the fuselage. Since he is making and selling retracts, the landing gear was no problem

There are pictures of this 109 in Africa colours, interestingly he is using carbon fibre tubes for the landing gear.

www.einziehfahrwerk.de/index.php/beispiele/alle-beispiele

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 05/10/2020 19:49:33

I've managed to publish a second video of the 109 with a different hand start as in the first:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpxv3KgbnmQ

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 30/11/2020 19:22:43

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 30/11/2020 19:23:40

I like the slow passes and flying up close.

Looks like rc-network.de has had some update, and the link from youtube isn't quite right.

Hello Timo,

I like your family of 109's, and the Yokosuka Ohka. I think these would be good candidates for slope soaring as unpowered PSS models.

Would you be willing to part with a copy of the various plans?

Martin.

I've updated the RCN link, thanks Pert.

Hello Martin, I would be glad to help and to see one of my models slope flying. Especially the H-version should be a good glider. I have plans for several other 1/12 models, if you haven't decided yet what to build.

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 03/12/2020 21:11:31

Concerning PSS: The last years I was busy applying unusual versions to my basic 109 plan. I occasionally did some work on the P1091 with the intention to use as many standard parts as possible. But it seems it gets a new plane, especially when it comes to the airfoil. SD6060 mod.12-10% will fly fine with motor and I think on the slope, but a thinner airfoil with a bit camber would be better perhaps for real thermalling.

In difference to the original draft, the model will have an enlarged tail, still looking small.

I'm still busy with the new home and workshop and then there's the Whirlwind waiting to be finished. But maybe the 1091 is something interesting for you, Martin? What kind of airfoil would you use?

http://www.luft46.com/roart/ro1091.html

Timo

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 05/12/2020 22:10:56

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 05/12/2020 22:11:16

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 05/12/2020 22:11:49

Edited By Timo Starkloff on 05/12/2020 22:11:59

The P1091 certainly looks like it would work for PSS.

I don't know enough about Combat, to estimate its possibilities there.

Now that you mentioned Luft46, there's a couple of favorites there:

- Blohm& Voss P.208 which is a bit unorthodox **LINK**

- Focke-Wulf Fighter Project with BMW 802 engine **LINK**