**** DONE: Bf109F-1, W.Nr. 5628, Werner Molders, Stab JG51, Me/FW Group Build.

[Airframes]

Username: Airframes.
Name: Terry.
Category: Judge, non competing.
Kit: ICM Bf109F-2.
Scale: 1/48th.
Decals: Kit, spares box and Kagero.
Accessories: Maybe some scratch-building.

Bf109F-1, flown by Werner Molders, Stab JG51, Mardyk, 4th may 1941.

There are questions as to whether the aircraft flown on the above date was the original F-1, Werke Nummer as above, which originally wore the delivery codes SG+GW, after re-painting, or whether it was a different F-2.
Nevertheless, I'll be using the ICM F-2 kit, and finishing the model in the 02/71/65 colour scheme shown in the profile in Kagero Monografie 31 'Bf109F' , which I'll post later.
I hope to make a start next weekend, after I've been to Duxford, North Weald and Bottisham.

[T Bolt]

Nice Terry. I've always loved the clean lines of the 109F. I'll be watching to see how that ICM F-2 kit is.

[Airframes]

Thanks Glenn. Most reviews point out alignment problems with the separate engine cowlings, but I'll be leaving out the engine, which might make things easier, so we'll see how it goes.

[Catch22]

I too like the F version the best. Looking forward to it Terry!

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice choice Terry, haven't ever tackled a 109 as yet so will watch with interest.

[Wurger]

Also I found this profile that seems to look more accurate.

[imalko]

Nice choice Terry. looking forward to see your work on this one.

[Airframes]

Thanks chaps, and thanks for the second profile Wojtek. I've seen a few profiles, and I see that one is for June 1941, so I'm wondering if it's his 'second', or 'spare' aircraft, with similar markings. The colours appear to be 74/75/76 in this profile, whereas his earlier machine was almost certainly 71/02/65.

[Wayne Little]

Nice choice Terry!

[Lucky13]

Nice choice old fart! Wonder how many kills, Molders would have ended with if he'd survived the war..... Looking forward to this one young man!

[Wildcat]

Good stuff Terry

[Crimea_River]

Glad you'll be the guinnea pig for the ICM 109F and not me. Will watch with interest.

[Wurger]

Thanks chaps, and thanks for the second profile Wojtek. I've seen a few profiles, and I see that one is for June 1941, so I'm wondering if it's his 'second', or 'spare' aircraft, with similar markings. The colours appear to be 74/75/76 in this profile, whereas his earlier machine was almost certainly 71/02/65.

According to the Kadero book for JG51 vol.1 the Bf109F Werk Nr.5628 profile shows Molders' kite used at the end of October of 1940 at Pihen airfield and wearing the RLM74/75/76 camo scheme with yellow painted engine cowling and the bottom half of the rudder. The SG+GW code letters were removed but there still were traces of them on the fuselage. In the volume two of the series there is a profile of Bf109F ( the caption says F-2 variant) flown by Molders in the mid of July 1941 ( the Bobrujsk airfield ). The camo scheme is of RLM 74/75/76 again. The engine cowling is painted yellow at the bottom area only.There is a a yellow band on the fuselage at its rear part. Also wing tips on undersides are yellow. The victory markings on the rudder are in six rows. The entire spinner is of the black-green colour.

[Airframes]

Thanks Wojtek. The one I want to do is as it was on 4 May, 1941, when based at Mardyck. One photo shows it as the profile I posted from the Kagero book, and a similar description (02/71/65) and profile appear in the Jagdwaffe series. I did notice though, that on the photo mentioned, there does not appear to be a Werke Nummer on the port side of the fin.
As already mentioned, there seems to be some debate as to whether this machine was W.Nr.5628, an F-1, or an early production F-2. But most of my references describe early 'F' machines as being in the 02/71/65 scheme, and the photos, even in B&W, seem to bear this out.

[Wurger]

You can be right Terry about the camo scheme with RLM02/71/65 for the early Fs. The picture of the SG+GW marked Bf109F shows these lighter spots of the camo being really light comparing to those of the RLM74/75/76 scheme we can see in other pictures of the LW aircraft. Also there is a short note in the Kagero book that the code letters were overpainted with RLM65. But I doubt that German maintenance crews could use the paint when the main for undersides and sides was the RLM76. So it would be logical if the paint was used when it still was the main colour for painting of German kites.