Messerschmitt 109

[DazDaMan]

So, I decided that I wanted to build a little Messerschmitt 109-type model, along the same kind of lines as the FT Spitfire or Mustang.

Thinking about the Mustang, I remembered that a few of them were made up to look like Me109s for film work. I printed off the plans and went to town modifying them so that it looked like a Messerschmitt - if you don't look too closely!

Here's my experiment as of today...

 

[DazDaMan]

Here's where we are at 1700hrs UK time.

Some of you will notice the exhausts are up high, like an upright V-12, and say this is wrong. It is not. This is being modelled on the Hispano HA-1112M-1L "Buchon", rather than the Bf109, but it could easily be done as a standard '109.

 

[DazDaMan]

She's ready to go!

I will admit to messing up a little on the motor fit. I did the same thing with the Spitfire, so the spinner hangs down a bit too low for accuracy, but it'll look fine in the air.

 

[DazDaMan]

Well, the first flight didn't go as well as I'd hoped....!

 

[Mr NCT]

Well, the first flight didn't go as well as I'd hoped....!

Ouch! Did one of your Spits take it out?

 

[DazDaMan]

I wish it was as simple as that! The '109 was really nose-heavy, and had a lot of trimming issues - I think we probably put in almost full left-trim to get it to fly straight! When I finally managed to get it flying more or less straight and level, I had to call time and bring it in to land. Coming in on finals, I think the '109 stalled and went in from about 15ft.

Repairs are under way, so I'll try to get it flying again this week.

 

[CrshNBrn]

Those 109s are tricky to fly... just like the real ones!

 

[DazDaMan]

Airframe repairs are complete, so just got to put the electrics back in and hopefully we'll be flying again tomorrow...!

 

[DazDaMan]

Another couple of test flights for the Me109/Buchon.

The first time, using a lighter battery, still showed a lot of tendency to dive and to roll to the right. This time, I managed to bring it down successfully for a look at it. We found that the motor has significant down-thrust, which might have been done when I first built it. We also checked the wing, and found that it doesn't sit properly due to the wing seat, and the wing is out of alignment. Relatively easy fixes, both, but more repairs needed as the battery parted company with the plane at about 50ft on the second flight! Another crunch, and the same areas damaged, but nothing major.

 

[DazDaMan]

SUCCESS!! I managed a test-flight today where the Buchon actually FLEW, rather than looked like it was about to crash!

The problem with it rolling to the right was largely solved (dodgy wing angle), and the nose-down tendency was down to the angle of the motor for the most part. It still wants to go down when you let go of the stick, but nowhere near as bad as before. Maybe another washer at the bottom of the motor mount might help?

But yes, I'm calling that a definite success. No damage on landing, thankfully!