A couple of nice photos for a bit of fun.

[stona]

Firstly a Luftwaffe armourer, having failed his audition for The Village People wishes that someone would come up with a better idea for the engine cowling precariously perched on the nose:

Second another erk, in bad shorts, is thankful that someone did. Is that HJ Marseille in the cockpit?

Enjoy

Cheers

Steve

[yak face]

great pics,steve ,very useful too ,seeing the flaking paint on the prop and general weathering ,could be useful for someone planning a desert scenario possibly involving a bf109-f and a kubelwagen ?(!!!) It doesnt look like HJM to me, he was only 22 when he died this bloke looks a lot older,plus from what ive read he was a very dapper chap,always smart even in the desert heat (although this photo was probably in europe somewhere judging by the camo) The first pic made me chuckle,what was he thinking?!desert boots and speedos! also the bloke behind him looks like mr ' lah di dah gunner graham' ,i thought he was on our side?!!!!!! cheers tony :grinball2:

[stona]

Yep, the european camo made me doubt it was HJM. Wasn't he killed in late 1942? Not sure exactly what model that 109 is, if it appeared after that we'd know for sure. Might crack out a few dusty references this afternoon!

As it happens I'm planning to do Wilhelm Crinius' yellow 13 (Bf109G-2/R1 Trop) with the nice green splotchy camo. I've already found the underwing gun gondolas in my box of bits so will only have to scratch the tropical filter. Hopefully get started in about ten days time when I finish my current, time consuming, work project.

Gunner Graham, it was all an act, he was one of the Abwehr's top agents!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Interesting to see the paint line on the bottom pic wing.Was the splinter cammo not aplied in straight lines? Also ,is it just me or does that cross insignea apear to be very close to the fuse?

The paint that is off from the prop in the desert cammo plane looks like when the macs "dress out" any stone nicks from the leading edge with a file.

The silver leading edge aprox 10mm wide is the sand blasting effect from ground ops on sand strips.

Theuns

[stona]

I too noticed the stepped edge to the camo, something I have seen in other pictures. It doesn't look like a repair. I didn't spot the cross being so close to the fuselage.The usual position would have it just inboard of the outboard edge of the flap so it must be nearly a metre further inboard than normal. As I've said before, anything is possible with the Luftwaffe!

Thanks for the info on the propeller Theuns.

Steve

[Guest]

I am just speculating on the big "chip marks" on the prop, but it sure looks like that when we dress them out with a fine flile.All you have to do is to file a half moon shape to remove the sharp chip edges and then blend smooth with some fine sandpaper.

It just stops a crack forming in the nick marks.It is part of the pre flight check to see any big marks and they are removed periodicaly by the aircraft mac.

Here in my neck of the woods thare are lots of small unpaved dirt airstrips and I see these marks all the time

Strangely enough more so on try gear planes that on taildraggers.With taildraggers the prop is much higher off the ground when taxing and during power checks.

Thats why I fly a L-18c Super Cub, you just can't beat it!!! ha, ha

Theuns