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!

[mike_cyul]

[mike_cyul]

[mike_cyul]

[Bradburger]

Looking superb Mike.

Cannot wait!



Cheers

Paul

[WarHorse47]

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

[Sundog]

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

[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.

[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...ovie-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.n...0e&oe=5D1D78A4
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...2e&oe=5D18910E
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...e3&oe=5D1DB187
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...75&oe=5D1420D2
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...42&oe=5CDAB09E
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...0e&oe=5D199894
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...52&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/attach...w-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/foru...ine-film/page4

And some neat behind the scenes footage of the movie Buchons: 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...ovie-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.

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/foru...s-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=5CDAB 09E
https://forum.keypublishing.com/file...tch?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 . 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):




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