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1/48 Tamiya Bf-109G-6 "Franz Stigler, Yellow 2"
Hello everyone!
I just finished another bird. This will almost certainly be my last completion before I turn 26.
This build has special significance to me. Let's rewind to early 2015.
As a student in high school, I hated reading. I thought it was because I just didn't like it.
In summer of 2015, I had just finished another semester at school. I had a little bit of down time, so my dad bought me the following book:
I immediately learned that I didn't dislike reading. I was just reading the wrong stuff! I finished this book in like a day and half or something. I was so enthralled, I felt as if I was literally walking alongside Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown. Since that wonderful book, I have happily read dozens, and haven't looked back.
A Higher Call is a dual biography about Franz Stigler (Luftwaffe fighter pilot) and Charlie Brown (USAAF bomber pilot). The climax of this story is highlighted in by a key event that occurred in December 1943.
Brown and his crew encountered Fw-190s and were almost shot down. Brown recovered his damaged aircraft (B-17F) prior to it impacting the ground. Despite that, they were far behind territory, had four wounded aboard, and one dead (the tail gunner). They set a course for England, and slowly began the long ride home. Brown and his crew had no idea what lay ahead of them—airfields, infantry and even flak fields.
Brown first passed over a Luftwaffe airfield. This is how John D. Shaw, aviation artist, interpreted this event in his recent artwork titled Prey for Mercy:
The burden to finish off the wounded bomber fell on Stigler's shoulders. He hopped in Yellow 2, and took off to do his duty. Incredibly, Stigler would make history by doing something I don't think any other fighter pilot would have done (that goes for British, American, and more). He didn't pull the trigger. He felt bringing this wounded B-17 down would be like shooting a man in a parachute. War is tough. History would have justified him to do his duty. Instead, Stigler would be immortalized for answering the higher call.
Stigler tried to motion the crew to go to Sweden, but they didn't understand what was being told to them. He then escorted them over a flak field as the Ye Olde Pub slowly headed back to its base. John Shaw also interpreted this event here in this painting titled A Higher Call:
After escorting them, Stigler pulled away.
Amazingly, Brown and Stigler would meet up decades after this event. They became friends. Many family members of Brown and his crew thanked Stigler for his act of bravery. Brown let Stigler know that Ye Olde Pub never dropped another bomb on Germany since it was written off due to damage. They both remained friends for the rest of their lives.
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Here is the kit that was used:
I additionally used Kit World decals, and Eduard's Löök set to spice up the interior.
Overall, this kit was a fun build. Tamiya really departed from conventional kits since they designed the kit to have interchangeable cowls—one open, one closed. I soon encountered more fit issues than I wanted to deal with, so I just left it closed. Be warned too. The fit is great, but there are join lines that would easily pass as panel lines, but don't belong there. They need filled:
The rest of the kit was really a joy. I hope to build another, this time with the cowling open with an Eduard Brassin engine to show off the Daimler-Benz.
I scratch built the navigation light lenses, used Uschi van der Rosten for rigging, and used a combination of kit decals as well as aftermarket. This was also my first build using MRP paints. I LOVE them. Far better than Mission Models even, which is saying something.
Without further ado:
Here are the only photos I had of this aircraft. The rest was interpreted by way of others' accounts:
As usual everyone, thanks for looking. If you have any questions, comments or critiques, please feel free to share! I can't wait to build a 1/48 B-17F as Ye Olde Pub. Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone in light of recent events.
Take care,
Andrew
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