Bf E-7 - Japan (Completed)
Kommentare
Andrea MorrisWhith the "lock-down" in full effect, it's time to crack on with my shelf- queens!
Andrea MorrisAfter gathering dust for a year, another shelf queen is completed! I had to scratch-build a new pitot tube and replace the tail wheel with a "skid" due to breakage. All the markings and insignia are painted on using home made masks.
Album info
Five Bf 109 E7's were acquired by the Japanese in 1941, without armament, for evaluation. While in Japan they received the standard Japanese hinomarus and yellow wing leading edges, as well as white numerals on the rudder. A red band outlined in white is around the rear fuselage.
They were used in comparison trials by the Japanese Army Air Force with the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa, Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki and the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien. As the Japanese were interested in the DB 601 engine and license-built it for their Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien fighter, they had little interest in the Bf 109 itself.
The Allies, expecting to encounter Japanese Bf 109's in combat, assigned a code name of "Mike" to the Messerschmitt's, in the event they were flown in combat by the Japanese.
