Messerschmitt Bf109 GB Feeler--Official GB thread now up

Well everybody's posting what scheme they are going to go with except for me I guess. I'll be going with Franz Stigler's Yellow 2 in the form of a G-6 model. The story behind this plane is that he escorted a terribly shot up B-17 (Ye Olde Pub) plioted by Charlie Brown out of Germany. He was going to shoot the bomber down initially which would have awarded him the Iron Cross but couldn't bring himself to do it when he saw the condition of the B-17 and its crew and shows a time when an enemy still had honor and a sense of decency. This incredible story is covered in the book "A Higher Call" and is slated to be turned into a movie in the upcoming couple of years. The book goes into the background of both pilots and some of the B-17 crew, their encounter in the skies above Germany and their reunion almost 5 decades later. If you haven't read the book, it is a must read I'll tell you.

Anyways the decal sheet is from Kits World and comes with the 109 and the B-17 decal set:

One of the interesting things about Franz is that he had the opportunity to serve with Hans Joachim Marsielle in the desert and in JV44 with the likes of Galland, Krupinski and a select few other fine airmen of the time.

Here's a pic of the painting depicting the encounter:

Lion

Yes this is an excellent kit and plan on only using Eduard belts as an extra. This link has great info on the subject: http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/1238-132-messerschmitt-bf-109g-6-early-and-late/

Mustang

That was quite a story about CB and Stigler, specially living fairly close after the war. Sadly both eagles are gone now but not forgotten.

Great choise Joe! I read a condensed version of the story and WOW! As you put so well... when the enemy (some any way) had honor and decency about them.

That is one heck of a story, Joe. Thanks for sharing it.

Greg

That is one heck of a story, Joe. Thanks for sharing it.

mustang1989

Greg

That is one heck of a story, Joe. Thanks for sharing it.

Read the book pal. There's no way I can do it enough justice.

Ok, I put it on my read list, Mom.

Mustang--I want to throw my hat in the ring too!  Or should I say throw my kit in the ring.  Not sure which or what but it will be something between a B and K version.  Have to get home and eeny meeny.

Greg--put it at the top of your read list, son. ; )

Greg

Ok, I put it on my read list, Mom.

freem

--I want to throw my hat in the ring too!

mustang1989

This is looking like it's going to be a good GB so far. Hell I can't wait for it to kick off now!

Me too, and that's saying something, given it will be smack in the middle of winter here.

Joe, that's a great subject! I read about Stigler and Brown before and it's a really amazing story. I might try to build his bird out of the Eduard Royal class if you don't mind? The G-6 schemes in that kit are rather boring except for that NMF JG300 machine (I already have decals for that one in 1/32) I won't be doing it for this GB for sure though (so no worries about having two Stigler Gustavs in here ) because if I finish my Hasegawa Gustav in time, I'll build the G-2/trop out of my Eduard box...

Been watching this one for a bit and figured OK, if Bish is willing to tackle a bipe, then I'd be nuts not to jump in here.  Been over a decade since I built a 109,  but this looks too good to pass up,  so Joe,  please count me in with a Revell 1/32 G-10.  I'll be adding a resin 'pit from Aires and using markings from part 1 of Barracuda Cals G-10 sheet to start,  but with the mindboggling variety of AM out there for these birds (as I've been finding out),  I can see myself adding a bit more  (those brass legs look very cool!).  Like I said, it's been ages,  but this looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun!

edit:  Well, I did just add a bit more.  Not the brass legs (maybe later),  but some resin goodies from Barracuda (intakes, exhausts,  prop,  & spinner)  and from Master Barrels,  a nice set of turned brass MG 131's.  Definitely looking forward to this.

plasticjunkie

Mustang

I guess you missed my post so here's my entry for the GB

ruddratt:Another Revell 109. Awesome!! I've heard alot about these kits in a good way. Looking forward to it man.

Clemens:By all means do it. Its just too cool to pass up for me and I've been wanting to build this thing since I read the book last year.

Mustang

I figured you missed it completely too, LOL. The details are much too nice to replace with pe except the belts that will get some by Eduard.  

Oh heck yeah!  I've been away from the bench for months and look in the A/C section, see this.....makes me want to start building again.  Don't know which 109 I'll do yet but I'm in for sure.  And Greg, get the book, it's definitely worth the read.  Not as well written as "Unbroken" but good story non-the-less.

Right on Reasoned! Glad to see you in here. Say , which kit was that silver 109B you built?

Joe,  thanks man!  This has the makings of a great GB!  Happy to be a part of it! 

Must we wait till January?

ruddratt:Thanks and looking forward to having you in this one .

avipond:I would like to have started now but have thought about all the other GB's going on right now and don't want to throw a potential giant in the mix with these fine GB's going on.Just trying to be somewhat of a planner in respect to other GB's.  Besides January gives everybody enough time to acquire not only the kits and goodies , but to also get through the holiday time period. Don't worry, you wont regret it.

mustang1989

Right on Reasoned! Glad to see you in here. Say , which kit was that silver 109B you built?

Classic Airframes, found it at a LHS for next to nothing and now see it selling for serious $ on Ebay.  I wished I'd have given it a little more attention than I did, may "fix" the wing root issues someday.

112 bucks worth if you buy it now??????????? Wow!

Hey Reasoned, good to hear from you!

Yes, I'll have to read the book. Everyone is coercing  me. :) Thanks for the confirm.

avipond

Must we wait till January?

mustang1989

Tom:It would be a pleasure to have you on board and that finished 109 looks fantastic. Just a preview of the fine work that's gonna be coming out of folks when we get this thing kicked off.

Greg

Yes, I'll have to read the book. Everyone is coercing  me. :)

Peer pressure! 

Here's another to consider adding to the stack Greg:  The Star of Africa, (Lews / Heaton) is a superb biography about Hans Joachim Marseille.  He was quite unlike any other fighter pilot of his day. 

Allen

Chanter

Hiya Mustang,

I'm interested as we'll.   I have Revell's 1/48 F-4 (Marseille's) that I was itching to get at, as he is a favourite LW subject of mine.  I also have a 1/48 Hasegawa F-2 that can be done up in one of four schemes that I may do instead, since Bish has dibs on Marseille's.

Your Butcher Bird GB was my first and I really enjoyed it.

Allen

I am sure there plenty of room for more than one of his birds. And if Lion does his, we can have a Marseille trio. I won't be starting mine until later in the year, going to do the engine kit first.

LionOfLux

Might join in. I have the latest Eduard g-6 and a Hasegawa 1:32 F-4 (Marseille) waiting in my stash. Just need to finally buy an AB system...

Do you know which marking option you are going for. For me it was a toss up between the red rudder and his final F with the 151 kills, I finally opted for the latter one.

Doug, ye, that engine is 1/18th scale. Should be about 7inches long once completed.

Spartan, looking forward to seeing that build. That's one of the other 32nd 109's I have in the stash, but I will be doing the one on the box when I get to it, I see your cutting back on the AM though.

Mustang, nice choice. I got the book a few weeks ago, haven't started reading it yet though.

Mike, great to see you here. Can't wait to see what you do with a real aircraft

Nice to see some new faces amongst the usual suspects. This is going to be another great GB by Mustang here.