Yet another 109 project

This time it is a project that has been waiting to get underway for quite a long time

I have been trying to gather info on the two-seat 109’s for some time, and really got another push with the arrival of a book on the type in Yugoslav service. In that book it is described how they received 9 two-seaters after the war.

To begin with, a few books have been gathered;

And as can be seen I also have a few conversion/AM products ready.

What version will it be then?

There are the german G-12 that is hard to bypass, and a kit is actually available from AMG. It is based on a UM kit with a resin cockpit. Actually not the best kit around, and the clear resin parts in my box are not at all clear. It is however a good place to start.

Now, there has also been a Buchon two-seater as is known to most enthusiasts, but that one will have to wait as there are at present no front-end for the M1L variant in 1/48, though two HA1110-K1L's were made into two-seaters. (SBS-model has a great resin nose in 1/32) The two-seater with the Merlin was the HA1112-M4L.

Avia also made a two-seater, the Avia CS-99, and that is a lot easier to make as it is essentially a G-10, and the two-seat version seems to be a 109G-12. The next version was the C-199, developed into a two-seater, the CS-199, and Falcon has kindly supplied a clear-Vax vacuum canopy for that version. They suggest the use of a hobbycraft C-199 for that conversion, but that is a kit I still have to come across. Lets see if eduard will follow their 109 series up with a C-199. .

The Yugoslavian story is a long one, suffice it to say that in 1946 there were negotiations that resulted in an agreement that Yugoslavia offered to store the Bulgarian 109’s in 1947. In 1948 Yugoslavia then bought 91 airworthy 109G’s and spares, and contracted Bulgaria to convert 12 of these into two-seaters. It seems likely that the two-seaters were converted in Yugoslavia, the first being W.NR.165104 that may have been converted before arriving?
The Yugoslavian two-seaters were named UMe 109 in Yugoslav service, derived from the Russian “Uchobni” meaning Trainer, and all 109’s were Me 109, Bf never being used.

What now?

Well – this is where you get into the picture! I know a work-in-progress thread is not entirely the right way to ask for information, but nonetheless, if you have any comments or info or pictures please feel free to share – any and all is welcome to add to the knowledge!

The UMe 109 seems to be the easiest to make, apart from the lack of decals as the sparesbox is full of Erla-hoods as used in the backseat, and the rest is more or less standard G-model with only the middle window to be scratchbuilt..

So far the following has been used;

Messerschmitt Bf 109, The Yugoslav story, volume II, Jeroplan Books.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, Late Series, Valiant Wings
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, A Comprehensive Guide, SAM Publications
Flugzeug Classic Extra, Messerschmitt Bf 109 Teil 2+3, GeraMond (also available as a book)

Falcon Clear-Vax Canopies, set no 50, Messerschmitt Bf 109 special
AMG 48702, Messerschmitt Bf 109G12
Falcon Triple Conversion Kit X, FW190S-8/Bf109G-12/Bf109G-14

Please feel free to add to this thread!

next up hopefully some building will commence?

Very timely post, Erik. I just ordered a 1/72 two-seat G-12 from Hannant's. It is from AZ Models, and my experience with AZ gives me concern about this kit, but it is too cool to pass up. The info on the box says that the plastic itself is from "HGT", which I know absolutely nothing about. Although your build will be different than mine, you will give me some great insight on markings and camouflage.

The options so far

here you have a sneekpeek on the available parts so far

First off, the Falcon 109 set has a lot of really nice vaccumformed canopies

Sadly they are for a lot of kits that are a bit old – and the two-seat is not to be found in my stash. . . Will have to figure out how to get it done.

Then there is the Falcon Triple Conversion Kit – that one comes with a vac-formed fuselage that can be used for Revell G-10 wings – one of these are in the stash.

Clear parts are – clear!

AMG is up next. There is a lot of resin and a complete UM kit.

Clear parts are anything but clear – any ideas?

The cockpit interior is not the best around, but at least it comes with sidewalls, and the rear cockpit has nice details – very nice and made from the only picture of a rear cockpit that I know of. Unfortunately that picture does not have the footplate installed, and if depicting an operational plane that has to be installed.

Last but not least, I have a lot of eduard 109’s in my stash, including overtree kits that has no decals, manuals or anything – just the plain grey sprue. I also have some resin cockpits that I may use – they have splendid detail and correct pedalarms.

The resin sidewalls may have to give up their throttle etc


And the exterior has to be reworked too – the fuelfiller needs to be moved aft one frame. I have some AM parts that will do the job nicely.

And with these options in hand, any and all suggestions on the one to go with is open for you to tell me – let me know what is your preferred option!

next up? – time will tell. . .

This is another build I'll be watching ! As far as the canopy is concerned, I think that George is right on the money with his comments.

I have never done any vacuum forming, but would it be possible to use the original part you are talking about as a master and pull a new canopy from it ? My main concern would be the odd angles on the second seat. If it didn't work out as a single part, maybe you could flip the canopy on it's side and pull two more vacuum formed canopies ... a Right side and then a Left ?

Then join all three parts together. You might have to use a very fine wire on the inside to hold the sides in alignment.

Just me rambling on... This is a very neat build you have started.

First off, eduard kit

To get things underway I decided to start with the eduard kit as a base for the first to be converted

Before I continue, I have just received a magazine from START – the latest in their “Luftwaffe im Focus” series - number 29. In issue 29 there is a couple of pictures of a 109 G-12 in operational use! It was pressed into service as an observation platform at the eastern front. The plane pictured has a standard armoured glass plate behind the pilot, and that will have to be a future build!

I still haven’t checked if the falcon canopy will fit the eduard kit – that will have to be future fun for now!

First off I checked if the interior would fit. With the standard plastic cockpit moved backwards it created a 3 mm gap in the lower fuselage.

With that in mind, it was time to get the resin out.

The resin cockpit from eduard is so cool, and I decided to use it in the rear cockpit. The jury is still out regarding the use of standard plastic or resin in the front office.

The fuselage sides were thinned with a dremel tool, the resin in a bath and wet abrasive paper.

Test fitting all the time, as this is actually my first attempt at major conversion of a kit.

With the build of the first one commencing well, it may be a while before next post, as I am pressed for time the next 7 days.

As for the “Luftwaffe im Focus” number 29, it is still not available on hannants or modelbau-koenig as I write this. I got mine at Haldværk, but if you live in Germany it is cheaper direct from START. (links should be available by clicking the names)

Perhaps one of the other two kits get started next? – stay tuned

This surgery looks painful, especially on an Eduard kit. It will be worth it in the end.

This is a remarkable project you have underway. I have only seen one other two seat 109 built on another website that I occasionally visit. I don't know how much detail went into the other build though.

If it were mine, I would definitely build it as a Luftwaffe plane... with the factory radio call code letters on the side of the fuselage.

I would be worried about breaking through the plastic by grinding it too thin. You are a much braver man than I !

It really looks good, and I'll be looking forward to the next installment.

Interesting project Erik, never thought or cared much about two seat version of well know fighters, but your work method gets this sort of thing interesting, might catch a few ideas from your work. Cheers!