FR Hispano HA.1112 Buchon

[mike_cyul]

As I've posted these on the FB page, just thought I'd post them here, too. The Buchon package, which also includes the original Spanish Air force versions, is basically complete (although there may be another paint scheme to add). If all goes well, it shouldn't be long now before release.

The Bf-109G6's are not far behind.

Voila!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/32359060037_62411b0b0c_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7890/46577631884_e2fd3deff1_k.jpg

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https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/46477846494_7e843f008b_k.jpg

[mike_cyul]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/46577630144_2546ce97b2_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7903/32359059727_d1f67251fb_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7810/32359058607_81b82893b1_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7925/46577631144_31ad09920f_k.jpg

[mike_cyul]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7831/32359058307_450cc9cb02_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7800/32259142177_ca6b3741c8_k.jpg

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https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7875/32359059027_91a05f388b_k.jpg

[mike_cyul]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7801/32359060917_37f0ade7f0_k.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/46577633674_06728e09f5_k.jpg

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https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/32359061397_b5ba90d5a7_k.jpg

[Bradburger]

Looking superb Mike.

Cannot wait!

:jump:

Cheers

Paul

[WarHorse47]

Not only do these look fantastic, but I really appreciate the updates on your progress. Thanks much. :encouragement:

[Sundog]

Man, I can't wait to fly these. Thanks for the previews. :encouragement:

[jagl04]

Wonderful work, sir. Thanks a lot

[avi8tor4321]

Simply outstanding!
This is an aircraft that has long been missing from the FS world and it seems to be beautifully represented here.
Like all the FR add-ons, one can see a lot of work has gone into these models and it’s so pleasing to see all the different variations as well. Great paint schemes too!
Will be adding to the collection as soon as released.

[JamieC]

Wow!!

I'll be definitely getting this package as soon as its released

Thanks

[blanston12]

I was on the fence since I have way too many payware packages already but having both the original and modern conversion has me warming up the credit card.

[huub vink]

Nice shots Mike, I especially like the "Ejército del Aire" aircraft, as the really look sturdy. The original Spanish versions make this a certain buy for me.

When you are still looking for ideas for repaints you could disguise one Buchon as a Hurricane ("repeat please").

Cheers,
Huub

[Bomber_12th]

Can't wait to push the purchase button the moment this one is released! I'm especially looking forward to flying the heck out of the restored versions.

[Cees Donker]

Can't wait to push the purchase button the moment this one is released! I'm especially looking forward to flying the heck out of the restored versions.

The same here!

Cees

[mike_cyul]

Just a work in progress. I'm not sure they were going to fool anyone into believing these were Hurricanes....

Curious colours, too - not regular dark earth/dark green, perhaps mixed from the paints used for the Luftwaffe Buchons? Almost impossible to tell the colour demarcations, no matter how the colour or b&w photos are treated in Photoshop.

Anyway, there you go, Huub. :)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/47331658801_1ed95ea0ce_k.jpg


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7877/47331658591_c4a984b052_k.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

There is a Special Hobby kit that can be built to represent that particular Buchon, painted up as a Hurricane for the Battle of Britain movie, here: https://www.super-hobby.com/products/HA-1112-M-1L-Buchon-Movie-Star.html

In the instructions, there are side profiles showing the complete demarcations according to their best research (essentially matching the same type RAF demarcations you would see on a Hurricane/Spitfire) - though I'm not sure of the accuracy. As you say, in the photos I've seen of the originals, it is not so clear as that (and they were only needed for use in the background). The paint the movie production would have used would very likely have been the same as they used on the Hurricanes and Spitfires for the movie as well, and heavily weathered.

Here are a series of photos of the Buchons painted as Hurricanes of the Battle of Britain movie:

https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18920392_10155325788943149_6851341568386415085_n.j pg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=f60311f9542520966a5a6dc314285c0e&oe=5D1D78A4
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29684003_1005063329660122_2859795318645257435_n.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=ca6da761eae5792302f98be047f6072e&oe=5D18910E
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/11146375_10202850227136521_5505854102259707981_o.j pg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=a19a3c74a07d3b7fcbf43a96117383e3&oe=5D1DB187
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/10960091_10202850226096495_7400860675883397396_o.j pg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=bc0031931dd00b3471dfb7f6fc5b0275&oe=5D1420D2
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13237715_10208156619946076_4296438530803977440_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=bc423327759e34fc399b3b219208fa42&oe=5CDAB09E
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13266019_10208156619626068_8557978604718737610_n.j pg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-1.fna&oh=2eea10ab14d9e6215f33ea2fe537b00e&oe=5D199894
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13221620_10208156619426063_1886440385586351841_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=4a4fd52cf40a683a36af16f6d1f0a652&oe=5D1E1360

Mike, I love how the weathering you did matches so precisely to the original painted as "MI-T"!

You can see in this shot from the movie, how the Buchons filled-in as extra Hurricanes in the background of the Polish formation scene: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/attachments/aircraft/679861d1398188018-battle-britain-film-fact-i-didnt-know-buchons.jpg?

And speaking of the Battle of Britain movie and the Buchons (and other aircraft) used, there are some great behind the scenes photos in this forum thread: https://forum.keypublishing.com/forum/historic-aviation/147038-battle-of-britain-film-cine-film/page4

And some neat behind the scenes footage of the movie Buchons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bngnXAMziyk
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bngnXAMziyk)

[mike_cyul]

There is a Special Hobby kit that can be built to represent that particular Buchon, painted up as a Hurricane for the Battle of Britain movie, here: https://www.super-hobby.com/products/HA-1112-M-1L-Buchon-Movie-Star.html

In the instructions, there are side profiles showing the complete demarcations according to their best research (essentially matching the same type RAF demarcations you would see on a Hurricane/Spitfire) - not sure of the accuracy. As you say, in the photos I've seen of the originals, it is not so clear as that (and they were only needed for use in the background). The paint the movie production would have used would very likely have been the same as they used on the Hurricanes and Spitfires for the movie as well, and heavily weathered.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bngnXAMziyk)

Thanks for that, John. :)

I have a better copy of the Special Hobby idea of the Hurrischmitt, and I think they may have guessed quite a bit - they have the spinner as Dark Green, for example. The filters, etc., I use in Photoshop to try and delineate things don't agree with their rendition, either, except for perhaps the wings and some small areas around the cockpit. I really don't think the film crew used the same paint as on the Spitfires, which is still easily discernible even where 'weathered'. I have most of the photos you kindly posted. The brown and green on the Hurrischmitts is practically indistinguishable, but nonetheless I've tried to follow the outlines where there's even a hint of them. I think I read somewhere that the Hurrischmitts were a last-minute idea, and perhaps they had to do something in a hurry and with limited resources. They may have been painted by hand for the day, in water soluble paint or something like that, which might account for some of what appear to be paint runs. I do know that the film crew changed the yellow numbers to red and vice versa on the German aircraft with a paint brush as needed.

As for the three Buchon in the Polish Hurricane sequence, all my life I thought those were supposed to represent cheeky Luftwaffe flyers who had caught up to the squadron! :)

[Bomber_12th]

Some more searching led me to another old thread on the Key Forum: https://forum.keypublishing.com/forum/historic-aviation/51934-buchon-in-raf-colours-for-bob-film

With this quote from a 1968 "Control Column" magazine article, with a firsthand account of the RAF-painted BoB Movie Buchons:

"Bovingdon, visited on Oct 16th by roving reporter Bill Brookes, produced six Me109's plus three with RAF roundels and most of the upper surfaces oversprayed dark earth in camouflage pattern, pale blue undersides, black spinners and a red band on the leading edge of the wing inboard of the cannons. These 3 aircraft were coded MI-V,T and S. They are identified respectively as G-AWHJ, L and O, c/ns 171, 186 and 199. The other Messerschmitts bore c/ns 166, 187, 190, 193, 208, 228, 'WHI,M,D,N,P and S respectively, identified by the following marks -,7,9,>>,3 and ->> and the two seater 40/2 'WHC 11."

As I believe you already have depicted,the more descriptions I've read about these point to the bottom surfaces having been left pale blue from their German movie markings.

The aircraft that was painted as "MI-T", G-AWHL, later was one of those that were modified to look like P-51B's for use in the movie "Patton" (complete with belly scoop), and then was restored and rebuilt to resemble a Bf-109E, with DB 601 engine, for Doug Champlin. The aircraft is currently displayed at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.

The red bands on the leading edges mentioned can be seen in these photos:
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13237715_10208156619946076_4296438530803977440_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=bc423327759e34fc399b3b219208fa42&oe=5CDAB09E
(https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13237715_10208156619946076_4296438530803977440_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.ffcm1-2.fna&oh=bc423327759e34fc399b3b219208fa42&oe=5CDAB09E)https://forum.keypublishing.com/filedata/fetch?id=3702332

[huub vink]

Just a work in progress. I'm not sure they were going to fool anyone into believing these were Hurricanes....

Curious colours, too - not regular dark earth/dark green, perhaps mixed from the paints used for the Luftwaffe Buchons? Almost impossible to tell the colour demarcations, no matter how the colour or b&w photos are treated in Photoshop.

Anyway, there you go, Huub. :)



It looks horrible Mike, just as they did in the movie :biggrin-new: :biggrin-new: :biggrin-new:. Nevertheless I like it!

Cheers,
Huub

[Bomber_12th]

Perhaps my favorite movie Buchon paint scheme is the Spanish Civil War scheme sported by N109ME for the 1975 George C. Scott movie "The Hindenburg", to represent a Bf-109B (a type which also had quite a big chin intake under the nose):

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7813/32396999447_5168f1a6b8_o.jpg


My all-time favorite Buchon paint scheme is the one that was sported by N109W while owned/operated by Harold Kindsvater in the US (the only "109" type I've ever seen fly in person).

[ejoiner]

This looks bloody brilliant. I hadnt thought about a buchon, but this looks great. Especially the native Spanish liveries.

Well done.

[mal998]

Speaking of 109's, take a look at what Kermit has been up. Unboxing parts of a downed Me-109 destined to be restored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwrqkpn4L60

[Bomber_12th]

Note that the unboxing portion of the video was shot way back in 2014, and since then those parts have been incorporated into the now nearly completed fuselage that can be seen at the end of the video, shown as of November 2018. Don Bradshaw stated, back in November, that he expects there to only be up to another two years of work remaining until the aircraft is completed (that is if Kermit Weeks wants it completed as soon as then - I know some of his projects have been purposely delayed/put on the backburner in recent years until the Fantasy of Flight expansion happens).

At this time, the world-wide flying population of Bf-109's and Buchons stands at 11:

- Bf-109G-6 D-FMGS (DB 605-powered) ~ Hangar10 Germany
- Bf-109G-14 D-FMGV (converted Buchon, DB 605-powered) ~ Hangar10 Germany
- Bf-109G-12 D-FMGZ (two-seat/converted Buchon, Merlin-powered) ~ Messerschmitt Foundation Germany
- Buchon G-AWHC (Merlin-powered) ~ Air Leasing, UK
- Buchon G-AWHM (Merlin-powered) ~ Air Leasing, UK
- Buchon G-AWHH (Merlin-powered) ~ Anglia Aircraft Restorations, UK
- Buchon G-AWHK (Merlin-powered) ~ Historic Flying Ltd, UK
- Bf-109E G-CIPB (DB 601-powered) ~ Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, UK
- Bf-109G-10 N90602 (converted Buchon, Allison-powered) ~ Erickson Aircraft Collection, USA
- Bf-109G-4 N109GY (converted Buchon, DB 605-powered) ~ Military Aviation Museum, USA
- Bf-109E N342FH (DB 601-powered) ~ Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, USA

Projects under restoration to fly:

- Bf-109E, WkNr.1983, in Germany, fully completed back in 2017, is set to fly this year (following some initial issues/further work/further testing of the DB 601 engine over the last year).
- An early, Spanish Civil War vet, Bf-109E is advancing ever nearer to completion to fly at MeierMotors in Germany - likely to be completed this year or early 2020.
- Bf-109E WkNr.4034 at Rare Aero in England.
- Bruce Winter's Bf-109G-6 WkNr.410077 undergoing restoration at Midwest Aero Restorations in Illinois - likely to be completed in 2020.
- Graham Peacock's/Anglia Aircraft Restoration's Bf-109G project undergoing restoration at Air Leasing in the UK (featuring a Craig Charleston Bf-109G fuselage combined with Buchon wings).
- Kermit Weeks' Bf-109G-6 WkNr.161352 undergoing restoration at Don Bradshaw's in Canada.
- Jerry Yagen's Bf-109E WkNr.2023 under restoration in "Eastern Europe".
- Planes of Fame Air Museum's Buchon.
- Although three have been completed by Air Leasing, there are still several more former Connie Edwards Buchons floating around - I believe another is undergoing restoration at Air Leasing in the UK, and I know of at least a couple which are currently stored with Airmotive Specialties in California, pending eventual restoration.

Currently the German-based Messerschmitt Foundation's Bf-109G-4 "Red 7" D-FWME (a DB 605-powered, converted Buchon) is undergoing ground-up restoration (with completely rebuilt fuselage, wings, etc.), and the Foundation's Bf-109G-10 D-FDME (also a DB 605-powered, converted Buchon) is still undergoing servicing with work having been underway on redoing the cockpit and continued work on the engine and systems. Last year, the Messerschmitt Foundation purchased the "Bf-109G-12" D-FMGZ from Hangar10 and sold their Bf-109G-6 D-FMBB (DB 605-powered, converted Buchon) to an undisclosed German buyer - that aircraft too has been undergoing major restoration and I believe is expected to be completed/flying again in 2020.

[Bomber_12th]

There is also an effort underway in Spain, initiated last year, to return a Buchon to flying condition, painted in original Spanish AF colors, which will be based in/operated in Spain.

[Fishbed]

I think there is one more Buchon under restoration in Sywell and should be in original Spanish color

[Fishbed]

Yeah, according to http://airleasing.co.uk/?page_id=50 there is even two Buchons project and G2 as well. G-HISP should be in original condition in Spanish Air Force

[Cees Donker]

Flying the Avia and the 109K daily to anticipate what the Buchon will be like!

:encouragement:

Cees

[JamieC]

I'm saving myself for the Buchon, cant wait for its release!

[Cees Donker]

It 's been a long time since I was so eagerly waiting for a release!

:adoration:

Cees

[mike_cyul]

It 's been a long time since I was so eagerly waiting for a release!

:adoration:

Cees

Back from testing, corrections made. FSX models themselves are complete and ready to go. P3D models are also ready, except for a third party sound module, which is giving me problems and I don't have a lot of time the next few days. Manuals should be written this week or next, along with the website pages. Getting close.

Voila! :)

Mike

[Milton Shupe]

Wow! Beautiful work throughout Mike. :applause:

[mike_cyul]

Wow! Beautiful work throughout Mike. :applause:

Thanks, Milton! :)

[flying legend]

Aaah, finaly a Buchon on short final. It is on my list! :applause:

BTW, it was reported on the FAST Aero page that the Buchon OO-MAF, which has been in long term storage for years here in Belgium, also moved the the FAST aero workshop in January 2019. So maybe also one to consider in Bombers list.

Greets,

F.L.

[Cees Donker]

Just bumping this one up again!

:pirate:

Cees

[Priller]

Good bump! Eagerly awaiting the Buchon!! (Messerschmitt with a decent engine!) :a1310:

Priller

[michaelvader]

Soll das ein Witz sein?
certainly the Merlin was a very good engine !
but the pilot had to manage him self a lot of things,
what the pilot having a DB 605 had not to do !
and hm is it realy so decent when the performances of the ac with the Merlin is less as with the Daimler Benz?
Such remarks typically german to depreciate german engineering and always to say that all what was from the allied forces was better than whar the germans had - - -
Just sad that as a lot of fine birds - we FS2004 users have it in the ---
sad very sad
yours
Papi

[Priller]

Yes it was a joke...

Oh, and it was the Merlin engine that won the airwar, not the DB. The DB was a maintenance nightmare. Fine German engineering, yes indeed!

Jeebus, those long Bavarian toes!

Priller

[mike_cyul]

Slowly getting there. Web pages are about done, as are the manuals (Bf-109 and Buchon are simultaneous projects). Still have the store pages to do. Probably take less time to build a real Buchon. :)

Mike

[michaelvader]

easy to say that the Merlin won the war if the Daimler had no longer fuel to drink
I will try to close that by what Adolf Galland said: Spitfire, Hurricane, Mustang or Messerschmitts or Focke-Wulfs,
at last it is the pilot who is decesive. 'And I believe that the General der jagdflieger did know from what he speaks.
All these birds had the following points in commun:
They had been the last evolution of fighters with big piston engines and flown by their pilots them thelves.
And I have respect for every one of them, respect for those who build them, respect for those who flew them in missions,
and gratitude (not sure if it is the right word) for those who keep them flying till today.
Yours
Papi

[Cees Donker]

Jeebus, those long Bavarian toes!

Priller

:biggrin-new:

Cees

[mike_cyul]

The Bf-109G6 and Buchon pages are up on the website. You can also download the Manuals, although these may still be subject to change before release. :)

http://www.flight-replicas.com/

Mike

[Cees Donker]

I only see these at the download pages, with 'coming soon', not at the aircraft pages. Using Edge. Using IE I see them!
.
:playful:

Cees

[Fishbed]

Same here with Chrome

[mike_cyul]

Same here with Chrome

No problem with any browser here. Refresh your browsers?

[MustangL2W]

Anticipation...... Can't wait to Fly these two!!

[huub vink]

No problem with any browser here. Refresh your browsers?

No problem with any browser. I can see the aircraft pages and the link towards the manual.

Cheers,
Huub

[stovall]

Everything looks great on Firefox. Can't wait to purchase and download.

[Sundog]

On Chrome, no problems. BTW Mike, I went through all of those pics and I'm stunned by the detail. You've done a really great job here. :encouragement:

[ZsoltB]

Available released date?

http://www.flight-replicas.com/Bf-109G6_Home.htm

:ernaehrung004:
(http://www.flight-replicas.com/Bf-109G6_Home.htm)

[mike_cyul]

Available released date?

http://www.flight-replicas.com/Bf-109G6_Home.htm

:ernaehrung004:
(http://www.flight-replicas.com/Bf-109G6_Home.htm)


It should be the end of next week, if all goes well.



Mike

[Bomber_12th]

I've been lucky enough to have had an early look at Mike's work and have put about 20 hrs on the Bf-109G-6 and Buchon as of now - it's addicting! With the flight dynamics being as accurate as they are, it is a fantastic learning experience - when you don't do things right with these aircraft, you know it, and you can't wait to go back and try to do better/improve yourself on the next go. You always hear about how 1/3 of the total Bf-109 production were written off in take-off and landing accidents. This being largely due to the design of the landing gear, making the aircraft unpredictable in the direction it may choose to head off in on take-off and landing, while the aircraft is also very tail-heavy, causing the tail to always want to overtake the front. But it also has to do with the amount of p-factor and torque the engine/prop combination makes up front, on such a small airframe, with only so much tail fin/rudder to counter it, and it is also quite crucial to be mindful of the airspeed in this aircraft, with its high wing loading. Lift off too early, and it will quickly dip a wing and shoot you off into the grass. On landing, it is important to slow the aircraft down enough so that you put it down with all three points at once, making a three-pointer (the only landing technique recommended in the 109/Buchon), and not so fast that you simply go skirting off across the whole distance of the field. But it is also important not to get too slow on landing, as when you do, the aircraft will simply fall out of your hands when you attempt to flare.

In learning to master flying these aircraft, I've consulted with several different modern pilot reports, flying both stock Buchons and DB605-powered Bf-109G's, and I've found there to be a great deal of similarity/accordance between all of them. In the air, the 109/Buchon is described as being just another airplane, with no real vices. It turns and rolls really well, has plenty of rudder authority, but is heavy in pitch (no looping maneuvers allowed under 500-ft) - it has its own traits that separate it from its competitors, good and bad. Until it reaches cruise speed, without the luxury of rudder trim, you have to carry a little right rudder, but it is hardly noticeable. Pilots talk about how you have to keep your feet on the rudder all the time in the 109/Buchon, as with such a small tail fin, even in level flight it can easily diverge in yaw, and just as easily in either direction - which is also put to the reason why rudder trim would be unnecessary/of no use in the 109/Buchon. (The ability to slide the aircraft around in the air with the rudder, being able to swing the nose side to side in wide swaths, has also been attributed to having allowed Bf-109 pilots to put a larger spray of bullets across their targets with greater ease.)

For take-off, whether it be the 109 or Buchon, the typical setup is 20-deg of flaps and +1 nose down trim. This is done in order to lighten the tail, and pilots also tend to always hold forward pressure on the stick to both lift the tail early (within reason) and keep the aircraft on the ground until sufficient airspeed is reached. Some pilots will also hold right stick pressure to keep more force on the right gear/counter the effects of torque and landing gear design.

All of the pilot reports I've read indicate similar/shared technique when it comes to setting up a proper landing approach in the 109/Buchon. It starts with making a fighter style overhead approach, flying the length of the runway and then pulling up and over into the downwind leg - this is almost a requirement of the type, so as to bleed off enough airspeed. With the airspeed down to below 300-Km/h (160-kts), pulling into the downwind leg, the gear is lowered and flaps starting to be cranked down and working the elevator trim. A "highish-rate" descent with a curved approach is recommended, turning onto finals after passing the downwind leg threshold of the runway, with the airspeed at the start of the turn being quite slow, down to about 215-Km/h (115-kts). As you're making the curved approach, you are cranking out the last bit of flaps, cranking more elevator-up trim, and continually decelerating with the slats automatically sliding out about halfway through the turn. The whole time, the throttle is well back, power well off. The last airspeed to look for is 180-Km/h (90-kts) as you're flaring over the threshold and cutting the power, at which point you can't see anything straight ahead, just focusing on the cones of vision you have out the left and right sides of the windscreen (trying to match the view/attitude still in your mind that you had when sitting in the aircraft prior to takeoff). They say that brakes are required in the landing roll-out on the 109/Buchon, and due to the tail-heaviness of the type, they can be pressed to the floor without any concern of nosing over (much unlike the Spitfire). All of the 109's/Buchons flying today, that I'm aware of, have modern disc brakes that the pilots flying them today tend to speak highly of, both for greater directional control and being able to reduce the landing distance. Operations in the 109/Buchon are restricted to crosswinds not exceeding 10-kts (it is actually placarded in the cockpit of all UK-based Buchons) - as Mark Hanna wrote in his pilot report on the type, if the winds are such that making a three-point landing is inadvisable, the aircraft remains in the hangar.

Speaking to the challenges of operating the 109, take for instance the history of just one of the aircraft, Hispano Buchon C.4K-75, which is covered in Mike's product (it's the one painted as 'Yellow 11' for the movie "Battle of Britain"). Following the making of "Battle of Britain", it was to be used in the movie "Patton", but was heavily damaged on take-off in 1969 on what was going to be its ferry flight for the filming of that movie. The damaged airframe then passed through a number of owners, eventually ending up in Wyoming by the 1980's, where it was restored back to flying condition. However, in 1986, with the restoration completed, the aircraft was significantly damaged in a crash on one of its first test flights and was repaired only to static display. In 1997 the aircraft was sold to the Messerschmitt Air Company in Germany, who over the next 7-years restored the aircraft to Bf-109G-4 configuration, fitted with a DB 605 engine. Registered as D-FWME, the aircraft first flew following this restoration in 2004, painted as "Red 7", but the aircraft was significantly damaged less than a year later in a landing accident in 2005. By 2007, running short on cash restoring the aircraft back to flying condition, it was sold to EADS/Messerschmitt Foundation. The restoration was completed in 2008, but on its second test flight the landing gear failed to extend and it was forced to make a belly landing. The repairs took almost a year to complete before the aircraft took to the air again in 2009. The aircraft from that point on continued to operate routinely until 2013, when it was forced to make an off-airport belly landing into a field, after the engine quit during an aerobatic performance. Following repairs, the aircraft was first flown again a year later, in mid-late 2014. Then, in 2016, with a pilot reportedly inexperienced in the type, the aircraft crashed on take-off after becoming airborne prematurely, dipped a wing and wound up in the grass at the side of the runway. As a result, the aircraft again has been undergoing ground-up rebuild (the freshly rebuilt fuselage was just recently delivered back to the Messerschmitt Foundation in late 2018). Perhaps the "unluckiest" 109/Buchon, for all of the trouble its seen, or perhaps the "luckiest" 109/Buchon, for all of the people who have continued to keep it going after every setback, always to see it rebuilt and alive again.

One of the things I've heard and seen various 109/Buchon pilots do as they climb out of the aircraft after a successful flight, is to tap on the aircraft a few times, telling it "you didn't get me this time!".

[Cees Donker]

Great to read this John! Thanks!

Cees

[binarkansas]

John I enjoyed the story. Mike can give you credit for selling at least one of these models. I was kind of up in the air about buying it. I usually fly smallish GA aircraft. I do own almost everything has offered and still fly most of them. I pulled out the 109K yesterday and have been flying it some. I suspect I'll find a spot in my hangar for the Buchon when it is released. One thing you can say about the German Warbirds, they look very functional. Thanks for taking the time to talk of your flying experience with the upcoming model.

[JensOle]

Mike,

I'm very much looking forward to both your 109 and the Buchon! One question for the later, I cannot see any pictures of a gunsight in the military in service vc (or it mentioned in the readme), did it not have one or has it just not been modeled?

[mike_cyul]

Mike,

I'm very much looking forward to both your 109 and the Buchon! One question for the later, I cannot see any pictures of a gunsight in the military in service vc (or it mentioned in the readme), did it not have one or has it just not been modeled?


Page 3 of the Buchon manual. :)

[Bomber_12th]

According to information by authors Gerald Paul and Marshall Wainwright... although Hispano would continue manufacturing the license-built Bf-109 airframes, following WWII and up through 1951, a UN trade embargo in 1946 meant that Spain had a real problem in sourcing a good engine for it. They tried with the French Hispano-Suiza HS 12A-87 engine, but ran into a number of problems with reliability and overheating. They followed this with the HS 12Z-17 engine, which although was better, was still not considered ideal. Hispano airframes continued to be manufactured from 1947 until 1951, though the majority remained without engines and were stored, waiting for an ultimate solution. By 1953, the embargo fell apart and Spanish agents, dealing with Rolls-Royce, were able to obtain a large supply of Merlin 500 series engines. The first Merlin-powered airframe reportedly took to the air for the first time in 1954 (though some accounts state as late as 1956). With the success of this engine/airframe combination, designated as the HA.1112-M1L, some 171 aircraft were delivered between 1956 and 1961 (in addition to two dual-control HA.1112-M4L trainers). Although the name "Buchón" is commonly associated with the type, Spanish pilots and crews typically referred to them as "Messers".

The Buchóns went into action at least four times between 1957 and 1963, in the Spanish Sahara, to quell Spain's territorial problems in their colonies. The missions were mainly anti-guerilla and armed-reconnaissance. By using the Buchón, Spain was able to keep to their agreement they had with the US, by not using US aircraft in these missions against Morocco, a country also allied with the US (Spain was receiving jet aircraft from the US at the time). Although the Buchón was outdated by this point, it had no opposition to match it in those fights.

As a somewhat interesting take on the use of the Buchón in combat, author Marco Fernandez-Sommerau interviewed Spanish AF pilot Luis Palacin Ezpeleta, who flew the Buchón and commented: "Based at the aerodrome at El Aauin, our mission was to support regular Spanish troops and the Spanish Legion in their anti-guerilla operations... the Messer was not an ideal aircraft for ground-attack missions in the desert, it being simply too fast and difficult to see out of to accurately identify anything on the ground. During one mission, I saw two rebels carrying a mortar on a camel atop a sand dune. I elected to use a couple of Oerlikon rockets rather than strafe with cannon, as was usual. Unlike the discharge of a cannon, firing the rockets produced no sensation, no vibration, no noise. On my run I observed a terrible explosion and realized everything had gone - camel, mortar, rebels, even the dune had disappeared, pulverized. Back at base, I made my report and to my surprise Commander Comas bawled me out and delivered a severe reprimand. He was furious, reminding me that orders were to use the expensive Oerlikon rockets only on 'worthwhile' targets. Each rocket cost the equivalent of a brand-new Vespa scooter. He shouted: 'You screwed up two Vespas! Two! Do you realize that?' He threatened me with arrest if anything like that ever happened again."

C.4K-134 has the claim as being the last Buchón to make an operational flight with the Spanish AF, on October 6, 1965. Fortunately, after the aircraft were phased out, they weren't scrapped, and were simply put into storage, with many to be brought out and flown again in 1968 for the movie "Battle of Britain", with a great many still surviving today in various forms/levels of status.

[JamieC]

Hoping some of the many talented repainters out there can do some for the various restored Buchons around the world!

[Fishbed]

It should be the end of next week, if all goes well.



Mike


Still clicking on refresh :biggrin-new:

[JamieC]

Me too, one of the first things I check every morning!

[Cees Donker]

Still clicking on refresh :biggrin-new:

Yep, it's the same here!:biggrin-new::adoration:

Cees

[mike_cyul]

Yep, it's the same here!:biggrin-new::adoration:

Cees

First versions of the installers have gone out for testing/opinions. Bf-109G6 for P3Dv4 hasn't because there is one final problem to solve, which was solved before but is now back and so just have to track that down again. And I've been a little under the weather and haven't felt like sitting in front of a computer, so that's not helping speed things up. :)

[Cees Donker]

Take your time Mike! Having a great time with the Kurfurst in the meantime!

Cees

[Fishbed]

It seems to me, Buchon is available :applause::applause:

[mike_cyul]

It seems to me, Buchon is available :applause::applause:

You are fast. :)

Everyone, please be sure to read the release thread!