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Schweizer Fliegertruppe Me 109 DB from the Fliegerkompanie 21


Basilisk

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As my participation in the Between the Wars GB from last year was a bit of a letdown, I like to have another go this year building a 1/32 scale kit.

 

I choose the Cyber Hobby Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 kit in the markings of the 21st Squadron (Fliegerkompanie 21) of the Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Fliegertruppe).

 

Me-109-1a.jpg

Me-109-1b.jpg

The picture was taken during Summer 1940 at Emmen Air Base. J-377 has the large fuselage Swiss cross introduced in April 1940, but still the roundels under the wings from when the aircraft was delivered (J-313 behind it has the square underwing wakings introduced at the same time as the fuselage markings). J-377 was taken off charge on 28 December 1949 together with all the other remaining Me 109 DBs.

 

Before you get stuck into me about the title, which you think should be Bf 109 E-3, the Emil was known in Switzerland as Me 109 DB and was so mentioned in official documents! And the Doras purchased at the same time were Me 109 Jumo ...

 

Switzerland was the largest export customer of the Emil with a purchase of 80 aircraft, purchased in two lots of 30 and 50 aircraft between Mai 1939 and April 1940, produced at the "Werk Regensburg"  (and an additional 9 built from spare parts later).

I always wanted to build a Swiss 109 E, but never thought doing it in the large scale. Should be a straight forward build I thought, but reading Georg Hoch's excellent book on the Swiss Messerschmitt 109s (also published in English by Schiffer) made it clear that it will be far from a straight forward build!

Why you may ask. well the Swiss purchased the Emils without any weapons and radios! The idea behind that was to fit locally manufactured  weapons and radios. In addition, the gun sight was a Revi 3c , the fitted control stick was a KG 11 which was similar to British control sticks and the seat Harness was attached in a different way for whatever reason as well... In a 1/72 scale model. these details are hardly noticeable, but not so in 1/32.

The story on the purchase of the Messerschmitt fighters is fascinating and I highly recommend to read Georg Hoch's book which is a great read filled with anecdotes on the Me 109 operation in Switzerland. The following information is from this book:

When purchasing the DBs, it was undecided what weapon configuration to use on the unarmed aircraft. At the end it was decided to use two 7.45 mm Fl MG 29 with 960 rounds above the engine and one 20 mm FF-K Oerlikon with 60 rounds in each wing.

Compared to the armament installed in German Bf 109E-3 consisting of two 7.92 mm MG 17 with 2000 rounds and one 20mm  MG FF  in each wing, the Swiss weapons have to be seen as a step back. They also needed several modifications on the airframe to be fitted and had to be loaded manually and not electro-pneumatic as was the case with the German weapons.

The Fl MG 29 had been mounted without any off-set and closer together (300 mm compared to 340 mm) which needed modifications of the engine cover and a new ammunition storage and feed which resulted in reduced ammunition by over half compared to the German arrangement.

Me-109-1e.jpg

In regards to the radio equipment, it was planed to fit a French radio produced under license in Switzerland. But production got delayed due to France being occupied by Germany. The radio became finally available in limited quantities by the end of 1941, but its performance was poor.

Three Flieger Kompannien received the new Me 109 DB in 1939 and Fliegerkompanie 21 was one of them. Originally no special markings had been painted onto the new aircraft. During the war in France, it became o common occurrence that German aircraft flew into Swiss airspace, resulting in several aerial combats with Swiss aircraft including the 109s. The first German aircraft, a Heinkel He 111 was shot down on 10th of May and several more followed until early June. Under the pressure from the German government, the Swiss Air Force stoped attacking intruding aircraft there after.

This resulted in very low spirit of the Swiss flying personnel. To lift the spirit, it was decided that it is now acceptable that the Fliegerkompanien are decorating their aircraft with the squadron markings - which was a sharkmouth for Fliegerkompanie 21.

 

Enough about history - So lets commence my build. I chosen the Cyber Hobby kit as it is apparently the most accurate 109 E in 1/32.

Me-109-1.jpg

As I love accessories I got a few too.

Me-109-2.jpg

 

My plan is to build the model with the engine covered, but incorporating all the modifications the Swiss aircraft had at the time the picture was taken in Summer 1940.

 

But first some riveting was in place as the Cyber Hobby cit looks a bit bare when it comes to rivets - strangely there are some on the kit here and there. I used some drawings to mark where the rivets go.

Me-109-3.jpg

 

Some pictures are helpful too.

Me-109-4.jpg

 

Rosie the Riveter does most of the work.

Me-109-5.jpg

 

And it does make a difference - braking down the monotony of the large surface.

Me-109-6.jpg

The fuselage was next.

Me-109-7.jpg

And several days later, It is all done.

Me-109-9.jpg

 

Strangely, Cyber Hobby has positive rivets at several places where there shouldn't be.

Me-109-6b.jpg

The cockpit of the Swiss 109 E has some noticeable differences of which most are on the Instrument panel

Me-109-1c.jpg

Most of the changes circled in red are for the weapons - Top to bottom, two pulleys to arm the two Fl MG 29. Don't know what the handle is at the right. Below is the FF-K cannon selection switch and the ammunition counter. Also note the KG 11 control stick

 

I wanted to incorporate these changes on this build which needed a bit of scratch building.

Me-109-10.jpg

And all together.

Me-109-11.jpg

 

That is where I am at the moment.

 

Any comments are appreciated.

Cheers, Peter

Edited by Basilisk
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Actually I got a bit further but due to limitations of the image count I have to post it here.

 

I also made the KG 11 control stick by using a CMK resin control stick intended for the Hawker Tempest.

Me-109-12.jpg

It was a reasonable starting point, but some modifications where needed. Not perfect, but close enough. That is where I am at the moment.

 

But before closing, I do have some questions someone may know the answer for.

 

The Swiss 109E had the harness mounting points different than what I have seen on German aircraft.

Me-109-20b.jpg

Was it done like that on some German aircraft as well and would there still be the slot in the seat?

 

The following picture shows the left cockpit side.

Me-109-1d.jpg

What are the items circled in red used for? The leaver on the left has something to do with air circulation (entlüftet).

Any comments are appreciated.
Cheers, Peter

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Very cool project, Peter, and some super work, too! You really have a good eye for details, and the skills to replicate them. Looking forward to more!

 

Kev

Thanks Kev. It is rather fun detailing some stuff in 1/32 - so much easier than in the smaller scales.

 

 

Nice start Peter.

Thanks, I am glad I finally got a build going here.

 

 

This is fantastic. Love the attention to detail. 

Thanks Jim.

 

 

Nice!  Following this one :)

I hope I won't disappoint.

 

 

The bar is very high here with some fantastic builds happening, so a lot of motivations trying new things. I made some other enhancements to some of the small parts.

 

I drilled open the holes on the oxygen regulator.

Me-109-15.jpg

Stuffed up the bottom hole, but should be ok when assembled in the cockpit.

 

There where some more holes to be drilled on the rudder pedals.

Me-109-16.jpg

 

 

The map holder underwent some improvement as well.

Me-109-21.jpg

The chain for trimming is massive - more like a motor bike chain! I will replace it with some PE I found in my stash.

Me-109-22.jpg

Will be interesting to see how it will work out.

 

I also thought the seat is a bit too narrow on the top, so I widened it a little.

Me-109-14.jpg

I think it looks better now.

 

After seeing this picture, I had to do something about the solid seat rails in the kit. Just noticed the small hole on the side. May add it later.

Me-109-20b.jpg

By the way, I still hope someone knows more about the harness.

 

I replaced them wit an L profile.

Me-109-17.jpg

This was a bit tricky as I had to reduce the profile in size and sickness. But I think the end-result is looking ok.

Me-109-18.jpg

Me-109-19.jpg

 

 

Me-109-20.jpg

 

I hope all these little enhancements will result in an improved cockpit - but still a bit to go to see it all together.

 

Thanks for watching.

Cheers, Peter

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It appears the top right hand side item in the cockpit is the UV lamp, the smaller one on the left a cabin vent handle.

Thanks Dean. Yes I think you are right regarding the UV lamp, of which there is one on both sides.

 

Maybe the smaller handle is indeed a cabin vent handle. Someone else thinks it could be for fuel tank pressurization. I found another picture of this handle on a picture in the preserved Bf 109E at the Museum in Dübendorf.

Me-109-1dd.jpg

It looks that it goes all the way to the rear.

 

 

Nice work.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

Thanks Mark

 

And thanks for following this build mmaben.

 

Cheers, Peter

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Can't help with the seatbelt question.

 

Do you have "Hors Serie 04 - Bf-109 in Swiss Service"? That's a superb reference, as is "HT Model Special Messerschmitt Bf-109 B D a E 1942-1944".

Yes I have "Hors Serie 04 - Bf-109 in Swiss Service", but Georg Hoch's excellent book on the Swiss Messerschmitt 109s (also published in English by Schiffer) has to be the yardstick when it comes to Swiss 109s!

 

Totally forgot about the HT Model publication. Have to dig it up ...

 

I also asked the cockpit related questions at a German forum. The handle on the right is the fuel tank pressurization / ventilation knob and the seat belt arrangement was also as shown above on early German 109Es when no head armor was fitted as was the case on the Swiss aircraft (they got finally fitted during 1945). I am glad this is now sorted :)

 

 

Brilliant attention to detail and those rivets look so good, I would never get them that straight, great job.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. I enjoy riveting (I know I am mad) The masking tape as a visual guide helps on longer runs.

 

 

My kind of build Peter - pulling up a chair and drinking in the detail and ideas.

 

Torben

Great to hear Torben.

 

I read many Cyber Hobby 109E build reports and several reports stated that "on my first build I had a hard time getting the engine to fit, but I worked it out now how to do it on this second build" - Great, but no one actually stated how they done it the second time :BANGHEAD2:

 

Any tips what is a good approach in getting it all fitted to the fuselage with all panels permanently fitted to the engine?

 

Cheers, Peter

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