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Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10

by Matthew Walker
Photography by Brett Green

Three more images in text and three more at the bottom of the page

The identity, colours and markings of many aircraft flown by Erich Hartmann are surrounded in speculation. For such a famous ace there are surprisingly few pictures that show full details of his aircraft.

This aircraft is no exception.

There are too few photographs of this airframe to make a positive identification of the exact aircraft type. For example the Aeromaster instructions (my primary reference for this project) state that a well-known picture shows Hartmann in front of an aircraft that has the refined cowling, and the forward tip of a white chevron marking. Having seen this picture I can confirm the cowl details and chevron tip, but not much else!

The decal instructions also suggest that this aircraft had a non-retractable tail wheel, shallow oil cooler fairing under the chin and short antennae mast.

As can always be expected, Murphy's Law struck after completing the project. I received a copy of Monogram Publications "German Aircraft Interiors 1935-1945 Vol." 1 by Kenneth Merrick. Pages 198 to 205 show pictures of a Bf 109 G10 with the same W Nr 610937! This aircraft was photographed in Oregon in 1995 after being restored. Apparently this a/c was US foreign aircraft number T2-124, so this aircraft is also a speculative craft. It does however have the same features as the AM instruction sheet. Was this airframe the reference for the decal designers? The Schiffer Publications title Messerschmitt Bf 109 F, G and K Series, an Illustrated Study, by Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeicke, confirms that these subtle design details may have been found on an aircraft within this W Nr range

For me this was a lesson in kit bashing! The basic airframe is from the Hasegawa 109F-4 kit.

The cockpit interior came from the Cooper Details Bf 109K set (I know that this is not strictly correct for a G10!). Detail parts came from the Fujimi Bf 109G10/K4 kit.

Construction involved converting many minor details, and one major detail. Minor details included short tail to the tall wooden unit; wing bulges to suit the larger wheels used on this variant (True Details wheels being used in this instance), paddle propeller blades on the Hasegawa spinner and back plate.

The major detail, by far requiring the most work, was the new streamlined cowl. The Fujimi cowling was mated to the Hasegawa fuselage to create the distinctive fuselage of the Bf 109G-10.

The biggest problem was that either the Fujimi parts are too short, or the Hasegawa nose is too long by about 1.5 mm! (the Fujimi part is too short - Ed.)

The edges of the conformal bulge were thinned so the Hasegawa fuselage and windscreen could be slid underneath. (If I ever do this type of conversion again, I will not do it this way!). The square cowl panel just below the windscreen was masked and fashioned from Milliput. A Squadron vacformed canopy was used for the Erla Haube hood and the Fujimi drop tank was installed under the fuselage. Various smaller details were replaced or enhanced using an Eduard etched brass set, including the radiator flap ribs.

As mentioned earlier, the Aeromaster instruction sheet was my main reference for this project. Colours stated are RLM 81, 82 over (the so called) 84. I used Aeromaster enamel paints exclusively on this model. Decals came from AM sheet No. PAF 48-04, Ace of Aces Erich Hartmann

Model and Article Copyright © 1998 by Matthew Walker
Photographs Copyright © 1998 by Brett Green
This Page Created 29 June 1998
Last updated 26 July 2007

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