Messerschmitt Bf-109
Model Airplane News Cover Art for November, 1938
by Jo Kotula
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Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter

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The Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. It was the backbone of the German Luftwaffe from the Spanish Civil War to the end of World War II.

Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter bomber, day-, night- all-weather fighter, bomber destroyer, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. It was supplied to several minor Axis states during World War II, and served with several countries (e.g. Spain) for many years after the war. The Bf 109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Here is a cutaway drawing of the Bf-109 that was taken from an article on Fighters from a 1942 issue of Popular Sciecnce

Cutaway Drawing of the Bf-109
Click here to download the entire article
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Here is a video compiled from historic footage (in German) that has lots of close-up photos of the Bf-109.

Jo Kotula revisited this airplane in the "Box Art" for the Aurora kit for the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Aurora Plastic Model of the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Artwork by Jo Kotula
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Here is the Cleveland "Master Kit" for the ME 109. Even during World War II, Cleveland offered detailed true-scale plans (swastika and all) for friend and foe alike.

  

Cleveland Kit for Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter
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You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

  

Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the Cleveland Site

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