{"product_id":"kotare-1-32nd-scale-messerschmitt-bf109k","title":"Kotare 1\/32nd scale Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"grid__item grid__item--60\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKOTARE K32009 1\/32 Late WW2 Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1944 the fame of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in aviation history was assured forever. Produced in vast numbers and operating in a dozen war theatres, the Bf 109 had shot down more enemy aircraft than any other aeroplane. As the Nazi war machine ran riot in 39-42 the 109 became a feared symbol of Hitler’s regime, and was justly renowned for its lethal attributes in air combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever in mid 1944 it would have been fascinating to have a heart-to-heart conversation about the 109 with Messerschmitt AG part-owner and namesake Willi Messerschmitt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the one hand he was selling thousands of Bf 109Gs to the Nazi government via the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) and making good profit on them. This was partly achieved by the unconscionable use of slave labour in horrific conditions. On the other hand his engineers had completely failed to design a successful piston engine replacement for the 109. The 209 and 309 had become ignominious failures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ongoing competition with Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf for single-seat fighter dominance was in full swing. It appears that very little information was shared between Messerschmitt and Focke-Wulf, either directly or via the RLM, but the Fw 190D was in flight testing by mid-1943 and was showing great promise, and the apex Focke Wulf of the war, the Ta 152, was in development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMesserschmitt’s reputation had been badly damaged by the Me 210 debacle, and while the Me 410 was a serviceable aeroplane, it was no great advance on the Me 110 and was found wanting when P-51s roamed the German skies. The revolutionary Me 262, possibly the most beautiful aeroplane ever, had been hijacked by Hitler and his bomber obsession and the Jumo engines were a constant headache. The science fiction Me 163 was too temperamental for even gifted pilots to use effectively, and while incredibly fast was going nowhere tactically or strategically. Messerschmitt’s Me 264 “Amerika Bomber” consumed vast amounts of engineering resource for no visible result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this environment the Bf 109K was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike Supermarine with the Spitfire (but unlike Hawkers) the Messerschmitt engineers had squeezed progressively more powerful engines into an airframe that first f lew in 1935, and didn’t change much at all. Always a handful to land and take off with its narrow-track undercarriage, this characteristic was only emphasized by the increased power on tap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne major change from the early 109G models was the adoption of much bigger tyres. This was necessary due to the need to cope with the increasing weight of the aircraft, particularly to allow the fitment of bigger brakes. Improved ground handling was an ancillary benefit. This necessitated a bulged upper wing skin, but rather than use circular or oval bulges like the Spitfire and earlier 109s did, long-chord rectangular bulges were fitted. Remarkably these had been aerodynamically tested pre-war in the aeronautical research institute near Braunschweig, one of the most advanced in the world in 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most aircraft designs, increasing engine power leads to the need for bigger vertical tail surfaces and the 109 was no exception. A tail of greater area had already been used on some Gs, and this became standard on the K, with an attempt to preserve precious aluminium by having sub-contractors use wood as much as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaimler Benz had worked miracles to wring up to 1775 horsepower from their DB 605 engine, which was produced in slightly different versions to suit either 87 or 96 octane fuel. Water-methanol injection was standard, used to cool the fuel-air mixture in the engine cylinders and reduce pre-detonation, therefore allowing increased power for short periods of time. The methanol also stopped the water from freezing at altitude. The DB 605 D was the intended motor for the K-4, and the oil cooler and nose contours were designed to suit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an attempt to improve aerodynamic cleanliness outer doors were fitted to enclose the main gear, and a retractable tail wheel was fitted. Despite being first tested on the Bf 109F in 1941, the main gear doors were still not reliable in 1944, and many machines had them removed. Reliability issues also affected the tail wheel which was often fixed in the extended position and the doors wired shut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many respects the K can be seen as a developmental offshoot of the attempt by Messerschmitt and Daimler Benz to develop a true high altitude fighter (Höhenjager) to combat high-altitude USAAF bombers and P-51s. The Me 109H proved abortive, and the competing Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was a much better aeroplane, though it arrived too late to affect the course of the war\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany other less obvious K-4 features will be called out at the relevant points in this instruction booklet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kotare","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57181664969086,"sku":"MMMS-TGL-K32009","price":68.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0776\/4603\/7306\/files\/kotareK_f02e15bf-2546-4b78-9634-9ec156028158.jpg?v=1774705425","url":"https:\/\/www.mannsmodelmoments.com\/products\/kotare-1-32nd-scale-messerschmitt-bf109k","provider":"Mann's Model Moments","version":"1.0","type":"link"}