Airfix 1:72 Messerschmiott Bf109E-4

[flyjoe180]

Another finished Airfix kit from decades ago, this time a Messerschmitt Bf109E. The original kit contained markings for Adolf Galland during the Battle of Britain. The decals were way below standard, and anyway, there seem to have been hundreds of Galland's Bf109E constructed. So I researched Bf109E schemes, checked my stash of old decals, and discovered a pilot by the name of Joachim Müncheberg.

Müncheberg was credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western Front, and another 33 over the Eastern Front. Of his 102 aerial victories achieved over the Western Allies, 46 were Spitfires. Müncheberg was the Staffelkapitan of 7/JG26, a position he had held since the latter half of the Battle of Britain. Before this, ironically, he was Galland's wing man. 7/JG26 was the first Bf109 unit to operate in the Mediterranean Theatre. From bases in Sicily they claimed 52 victories without losing a single pilot. Müncheberg claimed almost half of these victories. After stints in North Africa and again France, Müncheberg was posted to the Eastern Front in July 1942, where he was shot down twice. In October 1942 Müncheberg was posted back to North Africa as Geschwaderkommodore JG77. Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia when his 135th victim, a USAAF 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire exploded in front of him after a close burst of cannon fire. The Spitfire was piloted by Captain Theodore Sweetman. Müncheberg managed to bail out and landed severely wounded in his parachute. Although the search team quickly recovered him, Müncheberg died on the way to a field hospital.

This kit is finished to represent the Bf109E-4 flown by Müncheberg from Gela, Sicily, in February 1941.

I didn't have to do much to the kit to represent Müncheberg's Emil, except to add a white rank pennant on the aerial mast. This was constructed from sprue flash (I never throw anything out). This was the first kit where I have introduced heavier weathering. The decals are from various sources. The heart was hand painted. The kill markings were hand painted red over a set of yellow victory-bar decals. I wanted this to be a dirty, hard worked Emil. Here it is.

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[flyjoe180]

This is the reference picture I used to recreate this Messerschmitt, with my finished Emil for comparison.

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[InFlames]

Nice work! :beer2:

[stona]

Well done on the Emil,you've certainly nailed your reference.

Good bit of history on Muncheberg too,even given the German propensity for over claiming he was still a remarkable pilot. The history is always important to me.

Here's the man himself exiting "White 12" which he adopted after the "White 1" modelled by Joe.

Cheers

Steve

[papa 695]

Nice one Joe

[flyjoe180]

Well done on the Emil,you've certainly nailed your reference.Good bit of history on Muncheberg too,even given the German propensity for over claiming he was still a remarkable pilot. The history is always important to me.

Here's the man himself exiting "White 12" which he adopted after the "White 1" modelled by Joe.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve, the history is important to me too. There is much personal satisfaction to be had from researching and recreating something from history accurately.