Last one - 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1

[maltadefender]

We're well into the second half of the GB and I've already started three kits: one Hurricane completed, one Messerschmitt chucked away as a bad job and one Spitfire coming to the closing stages of a long research project on 610 Squadron.

Looking at all the builds in this GB I think we're about even on 20-ish British and 20-ish Axis machines. Far and away the most popular kits to use are te Airfix 1/48 Hurricane (done one!) the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire (yup... done one of those too!) and the new Airfix 1/48 Bf 109E... so I'll go with the flow and build one of these to complete the hat-trick!

I recently bought the Aeromaster PAF-05 decal sheet for aircraft flown by Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn with JG53 'Pik As'. One of the leading fighter groups in the Luftwaffe, JG53 fought on just about every front in the war and, with Maltzahn as commander, was the Luftwaffe's fighter arm in the air battle over Malta during early 1942 when amongst the most important figures in the defence was 'Jumbo' Gracie, whose Battle of Britain Hurricane I've already finished. Although Gracie never met JG53 in combat during the Battle of Britain, I think that these two key figures in Malta deserve to be together in my BoB collection, so I'm going to build the Airfix 109 as Maltzahn's machine and mount it 'in-flight' in the gap left by my aborted 1/72 Messerschmitt.

After the Battle of France, JG53 was based in both Cherbourg and the Channel Islands, which had been taken without any resistance on July 1-3. Hauptmann Maltzahn's II/JG53 was based in Villaize on Guernsey, providing top cover for Stukas as they attacked merchant shipping in the Solent and taking a heavy toll on the RAF squadrons based around Tangmere and Middle Wallop. This part of the world is where I now call home, and my in-laws spend as much of their spare time as possible out at sea in what was once JG53's killing ground. I went out on a sailing trip with them last month and took this photo - not much different to how it would have looked then, with the Napoleonic defences looking out to the Isle of Wight.

Back on the ground in Guernsey 70 years ago, meanwhile, the initial deployment of Wehrmacht soldiers was replaced the German military government organisation. The Channel Islands became part of the Départment de la Manche, (sub-district of German military government area A centred at St.Germain-en-Laye), and the first thing that the new military government set to work on was identifying Jews still resident in the islands and declaring anti-Jewish orders.

Thus it was no doubt something of a blow to all and sundry in the government that the Geschwaderkommodore of JG53, Oberstleutnant Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel, had a Jewish wife. When Viola von Kaufmann-Asse's family history was revealed something had to be done, but given the long and illustrious military history of the Cramon-Taubadel family, this was not altogether easy. Eventually the order came in early August for JG53 to paint red bands around the noses of its Messerschmitts, making sure that they obliterated the famous Ace of Spades emblem of JG53. While this was officially deemed to be a measure to convince the RAF that a new Geschwader had been formed, it was recognised as a snub to Cramon-Taubadel.

As a result of this, many of the pilots in II/JG53 and the whole of III/JG53 in turn obliterated the swastikas on their aircraft. Often this was quite crudely done, while other aircraft were done rather nicely and the space used to notch up the pilots' kill markings rather than putting them on the rudder. As commander of II/JG53 Maltzahn was not one of these 'revolutionaries' and this no doubt ensured that when Goering could finally get rid of Cramon-Taubadel at the end of August, it was Maltzahn who was promoted to be the new Geschwaderkommodore of JG53 and, moving to the Pas de Calais, the Ace of Spades emblem was restored to his units.

The decals are for Maltzahn's aircraft in early August, flying out of Guernsey with the red nose bands but with the swastikas still in place (top of the picture). The kit will be out of the box and wheels-up to go on my home-made display stand.

Sprue pics to follow...

Edited October 20, 2010 by maltadefender

[rowmk9]

I love the story behind this project. It highlights the stupidity and ignorance of the Nazi racial views. I'd have liked to have seen one of the 'revolutionaries' aircraft done without the swastika, but the scheme chosen is still very nice.

Edit: Also If Mish reads this thread, the Intel report for the GB is sowing misinformation into our ranks. It could classic British ploy to throw the enemy off, but perhaps a quick radar sweep of the current/finished models could be done?

- right. back to Maltadefender's cool project

Edited September 22, 2010 by rowmk9

[AnonymousDFB1]

Nice choice and Rowan I haven't had a chance to keep the count up to date

[maltadefender]

Edit: Also If Mish reads this thread, the Intel report for the GB is sowing misinformation into our ranks. It could classic British ploy to throw the enemy off, but perhaps a quick radar sweep of the current/finished models could be done?

Maths is not my forte! I do think, though, that I called the top 3 kits right. And for me, building what will soon be my 11th kit, it's great to have such amazing builds to reference my work against and learn how to improve.

Quite right the story of the 'red ring Geschwader' is a prime example of how bonkers the top brass was in Germany - it was Goering, after all, who famously said 'I'll decide who's Jewish' when it became apparent that Milch wasn't exactly Aryan.

An occupied part of the UK, a part of the world I love and a connection with Malta - she'll do for me. I've got time to finish the current 610 Squadron build as Wonderland has just emailed me saying that nothing I've ordered is in stock, so at the moment I've got decals and nowt else to be getting on with!

Nice choice and Rowan I haven't had a chance to keep the count up to date

Short answer is... lots!

[maltadefender]

Sprue shots ahoy!

Actually that's sprue shot singular... no time to waste!

I've decided for minimal weathering. JG53 was sitting around a fair bit in June-July so just a few scuffs and smudges as she would have been kept in tip-top shape.

[AAbshier]

Back on the ground in Guernsey 70 years ago, meanwhile, the initial deployment of Wehrmacht soldiers was replaced the German military government organisation. The Channel Islands became part of the Départment de la Manche, (sub-district of German military government area A centred at St.Germain-en-Laye), and the first thing that the new military government set to work on was identifying Jews still resident in the islands and declaring anti-Jewish orders.

Thus it was no doubt something of a blow to all and sundry in the government that the Geschwaderkommodore of JG53, Oberstleutnant Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel, had a Jewish wife. When Viola von Kaufmann-Asse's family history was revealed something had to be done, but given the long and illustrious military history of the Cramon-Taubadel family, this was not altogether easy. Eventually the order came in early August for JG53 to paint red bands around the noses of its Messerschmitts, making sure that they obliterated the famous Ace of Spades emblem of JG53. While this was officially deemed to be a measure to convince the RAF that a new Geschwader had been formed, it was recognised as a snub to Cramon-Taubadel.

As a result of this, many of the pilots in II/JG53 and the whole of III/JG53 in turn obliterated the swastikas on their aircraft. Often this was quite crudely done, while other aircraft were done rather nicely and the space used to notch up the pilots' kill markings rather than putting them on the rudder. As commander of II/JG53 Maltzahn was not one of these 'revolutionaries' and this no doubt ensured that when Goering could finally get rid of Cramon-Taubadel at the end of August, it was Maltzahn who was promoted to be the new Geschwaderkommodore of JG53 and, moving to the Pas de Calais, the Ace of Spades emblem was restored to his units.

The decals are for Maltzahn's aircraft in early August, flying out of Guernsey with the red nose bands but with the swastikas still in place (top of the picture). The kit will be out of the box and wheels-up to go on my home-made display stand.

Sprue pics to follow...

This is an interesting story! I normally don't build Luftwaffe at all, but a Geschwader who stood up to the high command is intriguing. I'll have to consider it. I have the Airfix 109E and was considering Bulgarian markings for it. Thanks for posting this!

Andy

[maltadefender]

This is an interesting story! I normally don't build Luftwaffe at all, but a Geschwader who stood up to the high command is intriguing. I'll have to consider it. I have the Airfix 109E and was considering Bulgarian markings for it. Thanks for posting this!

Andy

Remarkable that an organisation as over-confident as the Luftwaffe in the early summer of 1940, believing that Fighter Command had far fewer aircraft than was the case, felt the need to 'pretend' that it had extra units, isn't it?

[maltadefender]

Cracking on very nicely with this one in between stints on the big Spit when I decided to slap some matt varnish on my nice RLM02 interior. Pulled the paint clean off the plastic and left it big dark gloops!

Darn it... I'll have to redo it this weekend and use my dwindling Hu49 rattlecan...

[dahut]

Ive always been captivated by the story of Cramon-Taubadel.

[AnonymousDFB1]

Is it done yet

[maltadefender]

Is it done yet

Ha ha haaarrrrrrggghhhhh.

Not even the pilot. After 24 hours? Good heavens, so half-hearted!

[maltadefender]

Pilot and cockpit ready to go in. Not exactly super-detailing but I'm not exactly a super-modeller.

I can't believe what a nice kit this is to do. Just dry-fitted the fuselage halves and spent ten minutes trying to prize them apart.!!

[maltadefender]

Update from the peg fancier's workshop!

Using Xtracolor means having to delay each stage by a couple of days to make sure the paint's cured. At the moment it's still a bit blobby as I wanted to get the basics done and the fiddliest areas sorted, like behind the prop. This kit goes together beautifully but I'm taking no chances!

Added a red band on the spinner, signifying II/JG.53 - Aeromaster doesn't include this on the instructions but each of the Gruppe's aircraft I've seen has it. Admittedly I've not seen a photo of Maltzahn's aircraft but it strikes me that the Kommandeur should carry his team's colours. Besides, it reminds me of the Rolling Stones logo.

I've also painted the rudder in Tamiya Camel Yellow... don't know why but it took many, many coats to get a good finish. Never mind, I do love the smell of Tamiya in the morning!

More to follow erelong...

[FZ6]

It's coming together nicely. It's a lovely kit to work on isn't it?

I know I used a Hasegawa pilot on mine but the kit one actually looks rather good painted up.

Look forward to seeing further progress.

Mark

[maltadefender]

It's coming together nicely. It's a lovely kit to work on isn't it?

I know I used a Hasegawa pilot on mine but the kit one actually looks rather good painted up.

Look forward to seeing further progress.

Mark

I thought you'd used the Airfix one, so I've been looking at little Gunther there going 'turn your head, dammit!!'

Nowwww I get it.

I have to say I'm tempted to get another one of these while the kits are this crisp. It's a pleasure.

Edited October 5, 2010 by maltadefender

[FZ6]

I thought you'd used the Airfix one, so I've been looking at little Gunther there going 'turn your head, dammit!!'

Nowwww I get it.

I have to say I'm tempted to get another one of these while the kits are this crisp. It's a pleasure.

I did actually peform a little sugery on my figure so he could turn his head and I also gave him the mask.

I was so happy with my 109 I have also added a second one to the stash to do at a later date.

[maltadefender]

Thanks to Steven Eisenman's pic of the aircraft I'm in the finishing stages of the fuselage painting. It seems that the mottling on Maltzahn's plane took the Hellblau further up the fuselage, rather than bringing the dunkelgrun/grau down the sides. I much prefer the 'clean' finish without mottling - just looks like bad paintwork now!!

[AnonymousDFB1]

Looking good

[maltadefender]

Thanks Mish,

Mottle and daub now on the skinny bit. Time for the sticky-outy-bits now

[rowmk9]

looking good mate. These Airfix 109's look really nice, I really should have a go at the one sat in my stash sometime.

Edited October 8, 2010 by rowmk9

[maltadefender]

looking good mate. These Airfix 109's look really nice, I really should have a go at the one sat in my stash sometime.

Thanks Rowan - can't recommend it highly enough. Be warned: I think this kit is the styrene equivalent of Pringles though!

[maltadefender]

Had rather a lot of other things to do lately but the 109's taking shape and hope to have her stuffed and mounted alongside 'Jumbo' and the Hurricane by the weekend...

[maltadefender]

Warpaint applied.

There had to be a fault with the kit and it's the decals. For some reason the Airfix decals were poo. The stencils just refused to adhere and the larger decals fractured into half a dozen pieces on contact with water. The Aeromaster decals were flawless.

Exhaust stains, control surfaces, glasswork, aerials and mounting still to do!

[AnonymousDFB1]

Looking good

[maltadefender]

Almost there. I'm letting everything dry and settle before adding the aerial wire and then mounting her up on the home-made stand. There's a bit of a colour difference between the Xtracolor RLM71 and the Revell version used on the cockpit canopy, but not enough for me to lose sleep over.

Almost the end of my BoB GB experience!

Edited October 19, 2010 by maltadefender