discussion Dave W's Airfix 1/48 'Muncheberg' BF109E-7

[Dave W]

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This is my entry for the Battle of Malta SIG. The aircraft I'm building was flown by Oberleutnant Joachim Muncheberg when he was CO of 7/JG26. Muncheberg was one of Germany's leading aces in 1941. On arrival in Sicily in Feb 1941, he had already amassed 23 kills over Poland,France and England.And he scored 19 more over Malta. During operations over Malta, Muncheberg usually flew 'white 12', his personal aircraft ,which,like the other aircraft in the staffeln had a yellow nose containing his personal red love heart,while the jagdegeschwader motif,a stylised 'S' inside a white shield appeared under the windscreen.

 

[Guest]

Look forward to this Dave, great background story, adds quite a lot to a build when you associate it with someone.

 

[Guest]

Interesting background story and subject, Dave.


Thanks to join in

 

[papa 695]

I will watch this one Dave while doing mine.

 

[Dave W]

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Im working away from home at the moment.So im trying to build this in my digs im Cambridge.Ive got the cockpit together.But ive not made a very good job of it.But the canopy will be closed and not much will be seen.ive added some seat belts from an eduard set.Then i glued the fuselage halves together.These were slightly out of line.So i cut the locating pegs off to get a better fit and avoid a load of filling.


The interior is painted RLM02 (Vallejo) but it looks green in the photo.

 

[flyjoe180]

Looking good Dave

 

[Robert1968]

I'm liking this one Dave abd the background story is greet ( like the ref pics of subject and of pilot )


Looking good so far and I'll tag along on this one.


Regards


Robert

 

[papa 695]

Nice start Dave

 

[Dave W]

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Got the wings together and glued to the fuselage.Ive also fitted the engine cowling and sanded the fuselage seems.A bit of filler aplied which i will sand down tomorrow evening.

 

[papa 695]

Looking good Dave

 

[Robert1968]

Coming along nicely there Dave


Regards


Robert

 

[stona]

Muncheberg usually flew 'white 12', his personal aircraft ,which,like the other aircraft in the staffeln had a yellow nose containing his personal red love heart,

Hi Dave, great subject and great start.


As a BTW the red heart (some think it was black) was the emblem of 7 Staffel in JG 26, the 'Staffelzeichen', not a personal emblem of Muncheberg. From memory I think Muncheberg did take a red heart emblem with him to JG 77, but I haven't checked.


The gothic S in the shield is indeed the emblem of JG 26 'Schlageter'. Schlageter was an honorific title given to the unit in memory of Albert Schlageter who was an early hero/martyr of the National Socialist movement and then Nazi regime.


It looks like Airfix have decided that the upper camouflage was in the RLM colours 71 and 02 which reflects current thinking and research done by Prien, Caldwell et alter.


Looking forward to your progress!


Cheers


Steve

 

[Dave W]

Hi Dave, great subject and great start.
As a BTW the red heart (some think it was black) was the emblem of 7 Staffel in JG 26, the 'Staffelzeichen', not a personal emblem of Muncheberg. From memory I think Muncheberg did take a red heart emblem with him to JG 77, but I haven't checked.


The gothic S in the shield is indeed the emblem of JG 26 'Schlageter'. Schlageter was an honorific title given to the unit in memory of Albert Schlageter who was an early hero/martyr of the National Socialist movement and then Nazi regime.


It looks like Airfix have decided that the upper camouflage was in the RLM colours 71 and 02 which reflects current thinking and research done by Prien, Caldwell et alter.


Looking forward to your progress!


Cheers


Steve

Hi Steve. I got my info from the book 'No place for beginners' about the air war over Malta. The book also says Munchebergs white 12 might have had a vertical white bar aft of the fuselage cross instead of the white theatre band. Im going with Airfix colour scheme though (unless you know different). Airfix painting instructions seem to show patches of RLM02 on the fuselage sides. Is this correct?.

 

[stona]

I would go with the white theatre band as per the instructions. It is quite possible that this was painted over the the white bar.


Photographs certainly show some mottling on the fuselage sides. Bearing in mind that I think there is a very good argument for the 71/02 scheme, the first 109s recorded as entering service wearing the 74/75 scheme were those F models produced by WNF in the spring of 1941, and that when 7./JG 26 transferred from France in early February they did not receive new aircraft, that mottling would likely be in 02.


Cheers


Steve

 

[Dave W]

A few more parts glued on this evening. All the control surfaces are moulded as seperate parts. Not too keen on that feature myself. There wont be anymore progress now until Monday. As tomorrow im off home for the weekend.


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[Dave W]

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Flaps ailerons and elevators glued on. One of the leading edge slats has a moulding defect.These were retracted on the ground.So i dont see the point in making them a seperate item.Ive got another one of these kits in my stash.So i will see if the one in that kit is better.The inserts for the wing cannon need fairing in with filler.And the wing and tailplane roots need a bit as well.

 

[Guest]

Great progress and away from home too! Now that is dedication.

 

[Dave W]

Great progress and away from home too! Now that is dedication.

It gives me something to do in the evenings and stops me falling into the old contractors trap of going to the pub every night. Luckily there's a spot lamp and desk in my digs. Unfortunately my contract at Cambridge airport ends this week. I'm off to work in the Thomas Cook hanger in Manchester for the next 3 months.So this will be a much travelled 109!.

 

[Guest]

Coming along real nicely.

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work Dave