Eduard Bf 109 E-1 (Weekend Edition)

[stona]

White Ensigns RLM 70,71 and 65.

The gun ports are a light grey colour (though they do look white in my photo). The instructions reckon they were RLM 02 but others, including myself, prefer a light grey colour. I used Humbrol 146. Later they were just painted in the camouflage colours.

Here's a detail from a rare piece of colour film.



And a detail of my version.



Cheers

Steve

[Vaughan]

Thanks for the up on that one Steve makes you wonder why they were painted a different colour.

[stona]

makes you wonder why they were painted a different colour.

I have absolutely no idea, maybe some kind of special protective paint? They gave it up soon enough anyway.

Cheers

Steve

[tr1ckey66]

Excellent work Steve, that paintwork looks immaculate and a really interesting early scheme.

Cheers

Paul

[flyjoe180]

Nice paint work again Steve. I had never noticed the white/bright coloured machine gun panels on early Emils before. It appears the gun troughs were constructed from iron and not aluminium and were protected with a light grey heat-resistant paint at the factory.

[Guest]

Excellent work Steve, looking forward to the next instalment

[Guest]

Great looking splinter Steve

[papa 695]

Super paint work Steve

[stona]

I haven't given up on this one

I only returned home yesterday and today I've applied the decals and slapped on a first slosh of Microsol, as you can probably see in this picture.



At least this particular Bf 109 now has an identity!

Cheers

Steve

[The Migrant]

Loking really nice, Steve. Interesting how WEM's 70/71 differ so drastically from some other manufacturers' interpretations. The Schwarzgrun particularly has quite a brown hue to it, instead of the dark forest green I'm more used to seeing.

[stona]

I think there is a trompe-l'oeil caused by the two colours being side by side. The RLM 71 is always a fairly olive green colour, but it looks very brown next to the much greener RLM 70.

I think I'll probably apply a green/grey filter eventually to tone everything down. The only problem is that I want to keep the white of the markings clean. This is a pre-war scheme, the white tail and wing tips were applied when JG 26 was taking part in manoeuvres with the Army in the summer of 1939 to aid identification of 'friendly' and 'enemy' forces. Presumably they were rehearsing the Blitzkrieg to be unleashed shortly against Poland. The few references I have for these oddly marked aircraft (and those of other fighter units) at this time show them to be pristine. Definitely a peace time phenomenon

Incidentally I've always seen the 70/71 Luftwaffe splinter and the early war RAF Dark Green/Dark Earth as having more in common than might first meet the eye. The RAF scheme has a higher contrast, but the colours are from a similar palette.

They'd also both given them up on fighters by late 1941 and gone for a grey and grey/green (75/74) scheme and an grey and green (Ocean Grey/Dark Green) scheme respectively

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

What stands out for me is the Swastika. I have predominantly Airfix kits as they're easiest for me to obtain and whilst they do a lot of German war birds, I've never seen a Swastika decal. Does the one on this plane come with the kit, or is it aftermarket. If it does come with, which other manufacturers censor decals?

[Guest]

What stands out for me is the Swastika. I have predominantly Airfix kits as they're easiest for me to obtain and whilst they do a lot of German war birds, I've never seen a Swastika decal. Does the one on this plane come with the kit, or is it aftermarket. If it does come with, which other manufacturers censor decals?

As well as Airfix, Revell omit swastikas, because they're German & it's a criminal offense to display it there.

Some manufacturers get round it by breaking it down into 2 or more sections.

[stona]

What stands out for me is the Swastika. I have predominantly Airfix kits as they're easiest for me to obtain and whilst they do a lot of German war birds, I've never seen a Swastika decal. Does the one on this plane come with the kit, or is it aftermarket. If it does come with, which other manufacturers censor decals?

It is an after market decal, but the kit decal sheet includes them too. It stands out even more for being on a white tail and being in an unusual position, across the rudder. It was moved to be entirely on the fin not long after this date.

The 'swastika question' comes up from time to time. It is against the law to display the symbol, except in some specific contexts, in Germany and some other countries. Some kit manufacturers don't include swastika decals, or provide the irritating multi-part option, for fear of compromising sales in the territories in which the symbol is subject to such legislation. Others seem to take a more 'laissez faire' attitude and get away with it.

As an example, German modellers can't display models publicly with swastikas. They either don't apply them or cover them for shows.

It's tricky for us too. Some might choose not to apply swastikas at all, which is fine by me. I do apply them and there are sheets of swastika decals in all the various sizes and styles available from several manufacturers. For me it is important to make the model look as much like the original subject as I can and that means applying all the national markings, including swastikas. It certainly doesn't mean I have any affinity for the Nazi regime or its ideology, anymore than applying red stars to a Soviet aircraft would make me a Stalinist

The WW2 Luftwaffe was a thoroughly Nazi organisation. It was a child of the Nazi state and many of its officers, from top to bottom, were ardent Nazis. There's no point in skating around unpleasant historical facts and I certainly don't. I'm afraid that the post war back pedalling (Galland once claimed he never used the Nazi salute) doesn't fit the facts. I've always despised Rudel's political views, but at least he was honest.

This model is an aircraft of JG 26 'Schlageter'. The unit was named in honour of Albert Leo Schlageter. He was a member of the Freikorps and was executed by the French for his post WW1 activities, sabotaging the French occupying forces, blowing up railway cars amongst other things.

Schlageter's execution made him an early Nazi martyr and hero, whose image was carefully manipulated by the Nazis and their propaganda apparatus. JG 26 was honoured to take his name.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Looking really nice Steve.

Excellent paintwork as always