Hey all - I’m about to start a Bf 109 G6 flown by Eric Hartmann. The version I chose is ‘White 1’ as shown in my decal sheet from EagleCals. What I’m looking for is more information about what exact type of ordinance and armament this particular aircraft might have carried. For instance, might it have been an R2 fitted with rockets, or a U4 with underwing cannon? The EagleCal sheet gives work numbers for two other variations, but this one is not known. Supposedly, Hartmann flew this plane in the campaign on Hungary in October, 1944.
I’ll make this real short. hartmann flew alot of 109’s. All of them very marked almost alike. Yellow 1 is a very well documented aircraft, while white 1 there is some confussion about. In his flight log hartmann has down as he is flying a G-6. The known pics of white 1 show a G-14. At that point in the war it is doubtful his was flying a G-6. Most now think he made a mistake and was in fact in a G-14. JG52 was flying both the G-6 and the G-14 near that time. Hartmann did from time to time have more than one aircraft assigned to him. It is possible his flew a G-6 in very similar marking. It is also known that he stopped flying with the scallops because the russians knew who he was and his kills fell off.
As far as special equiptment it is thought that white 1 was equipted with mw 50 boost system. To my knowledge white 1 did not carry wing cannons or rockets because he was not attacking heavy bombers.
Thanks for the info phoenix - And here, it was those scallops that really got me going on this version!! I knew about Hartmann removing the scallops, so that should have given me a clue, but I didn’t know about the G6 being phased out at that time.
I don’t have to confine this model to ‘White 1’ specifically, just that I have the Hasa G6 and a bunch of photoetch stuff for it, plus the EagleCal sheet, so I wanted to build a G6 that was somewhat distinguished (it’s for a friend in Germany, who’s a fan of the 109). Then again, it would probably be cheaper to buy a new G14 model.
This leads me back to the original question (now excluding White 1): Is there a reference for the different 109’s that Hartmann himself would have flown?
I really want to keep those scallops!! I would buy different decals if I could find any others that have Hartmann’s markings (w/scallops) and are more true to the G6.
Thanks again phoenix, your knowledge is helping me to narrow this thing down and keep it accurate.
I have the book “Blond Knight of Germany” about Erich Hartmann, and I’m pretty sure it has a listing of the aircraft he flew, where and when. I’ll dig it up and check the info tomorrow or Wednesday.
I just picked up Aeromasters decals Aces of Aces that has 5 versions of 109’s flown by Hartmann. They are Yellow 1 Bf-109G-6 Oct 1943 W Nr 20499, White 1 Bf-109G-6 Oct 1944, Yellow 1 Bf-109G-6 Aug 1944 W Nr 166221, Snow Camo Bf-109G-6 Feb 1945, and Bf-109G-10 Apr 1945. Not exactly sure what the Scallops are but if it’s the tulip on the nose the #2, 4, &5 have them. HTH
I could be wrong, but everything I’ve seen regarding Hartmann’s Bf109 with the snow camouflage was a Bf109G-14. It’s on the cover of the Osprey book “Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front” (although it’s a painting.) I am currently building Hartmann’s Bf109G-14 (the 1/32 Hasegawa kit) with the winter camo and the black tulip nose. Gorgeous aircraft. [8D]
I agree that the winter G14 is georgeous. My Eaglecal sheet states that in Feb 1945 it was a G6, but the profile in the same decal sheet shows a G14. the most obvious difference is the taller rudder fin.
I want to stick with a normal camo, as the white covers up too much. I may build another though in 1/72 for myself, and that one will most likely be winter camo as I’ve done on my Do17z.
The taller tail fin is the wooden fin, which was used on several variants of the Bf109 G and K series airframes. The Germans get very confusing on their designations and the complexity of various options on all their aircraft. It’s mind boggling [:O] [(-D].
It’s not uncommon to see G-5. G-10, G-14 and K series aircraft side by side, some with the metal tail/rudder and others with the wooden tail/rudder, and this holds true on other versions of the G and K as well, so be careful about using that to tell the difference between models. [:-^] I have a great reference book at home on the Bf109 F, G and K series, so if you’re interested in more info on the taller wooden tail and which variants it was used on or other info I’d be more than happy to look it up and share it. [:)]
Most of my progress shots on the G-14 will be in the Axis Aces GB thread, but I’ll post the major updates on the aircraft forums as well. [8D]
If you mean the book “Blond Knight of Germany” I ordered it this morning. I must be in a spending mood.
According to my book “Warplanes of the Luftwaffe”, the G7 was not produced, as you said, and reading further into it, as Espins said, the taller tail was used on different aircraft.
This is becoming more difficult than I thought, so I may just end up building it in whatever scheme I find most convenient and saying “prove me wrong” haha.
heh heh heh, welcome to the complicated world of the Luftwaffe. Researching Luftwaffe aircraft is a long and complicated task, and often times there are many contradictions with the info available. Just do it the way you want and I’m sure it will turn out great! [8D] [:)]
hartmann made alot of kills in the scallops clad 109. that’s how he got the name the black devil. I like it as well (built 2 of them). He was shot down something like 6 or more times (I forget). But anyway between upgrading and getting shot up he went through alot of 109’s. like the others said there is several books out there, but they keep finding new info everyday. Unless you are a 109 expert and even then it hard to tell most will not be able to tell a late G-6 vs a early G-14. Build what you like, If you fell you need more reference pics I can dig up what I have.
Interesting off topic note on hartmann. He is the leading luftwaffe ace, BUT never flew anything but the 109. That has to say something about the that aircraft.
Just to clarify, Hartmann scored all of his kills flying the Bf109, however he did fly other aircraft. After finally being release as a prisoner of war from the Soviets in 1955, he went on to command JG71 which flew F-104 Starfighters.
Also, as someone else mentioned above, it’s interesting that Hartmann lists one of the planes he flew in combat as a Bf109G-7, which never entered production. [:O] [:)]
No wonder there is always so much confusion with regards to the Luftwaffe, the pilots get the aircraft mixed up as well! [(-D]
I believe he also flew Canadair Mk6 Sabres, which was the last A/C to bear the Tulip markings. Can’t find a pic for it, but there is a decal set for it.
