A colourful Bf110

[pyro-manic]

Here is a very long-running build of mine. I put most of this model together about three years ago, but it languished for a long time. But here she is, finished and crossed off the list. The kit is the old, but not too shabby, Revell Bf110E in 1:72.


Messerschmitt Bf110E-1, Schweizer Flugwaffe, 1949 by pyro-manic, on Flickr

This aircraft was originally a German machine, but came into Swiss possession when it flew over the Swiss border in bad weather and landed at Dübendorf in late 1942. The aircraft was seized and the crew interned briefly; they were later returned to Germany though the aircraft was kept for evaluation purposes - the Swiss had tried to buy Bf110s in the late 1930s, but was rebuffed by Germany.

The aircraft had an underwhelming career with the Swiss - it received a bright colour scheme with the distinctive red and white striped ID bars, and was put through it's paces by test pilots. The main aim was to compare the big Messerschmitt to the Swiss-developed C-36 multi-role aircraft then entering production. It was found that the Bf110 outperformed the C-36 in speed, range, firepower and useful load, though it was less manoeuverable. Nonetheless, as a single aircraft it was not put into frontline service. It was intended to convert the machine into a fast transport/liaison role, but before this could be done a hard landing caused significant damage. With the end of hostilities, the plane languished in storage for many years before ending up on display at the Fleiger Flab Museum at Dübendorf. She is seen here as she was in storage in 1949.

[Captain Canada]

Looks good in those colours. But what's going on under that tarp that we should know about ?

Glad to see you whittling down the list !

[pyro-manic]

A hideous, cracked, fogged, crazed canopy piece is what's under the tarp! Expedient solution.

[loupgarou]

Nice! A very plausible and realistic whif.
But are you sure the swiss never really interned any Bf-110? 
They got all sorts of aircraft! And I always wondered why every time the captions say "landed at Dubendorf". Was the base with the best pub?

[pyro-manic]

They might have done, but they never got the stripy paintjob like the Mustangs and Bf109s did. Dubendorf is closest to the German border, so it makes sense that mistaken landings would occur there.

[dumaniac]

nice camo - always love those swiss schemes

nice build

[The Wooksta!]

IIRC there was one Bf 110G nightfighter that had a forced landing in Switzerland and was interned.  The crew were returned to Germany and the aircraft destroyed.  But not before the British were allowed access to the radar...

[kitnut617]

Very nicely done Alun -- 

(decals look familiar  -----    )

[pyro-manic]

Thanks peeps, and thanks again for the markings, Robert - much appreciated. I ended up only using two of the crosses, and had to cut them out of the red surround because it didn't match the red paint I used! Most annoying, but hey-ho. 'Tis done, and looks quite smart IMO.

The tarp, by the way, is made from the little foil packets that Swann Morton scalpel blades come in. Useful stuff, and something I'll be doing again. Straps are Tamiya tape painted brown.

[PR19_Kit]

The tarp, by the way, is made from the little foil packets that Swann Morton scalpel blades come in. Useful stuff, and something I'll be doing again. Straps are Tamiya tape painted brown.

Brilliant! That may have solved a problem I've had for some years now, and I'm not short of those packets, thanks to someone on here who sold me a VAST amount a year or so ago. 

[pyro-manic]

I did the same - bought a boxful for a couple of quid. Just make sure you iron out the stamped-in serial numbers properly!

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice! 

[Mossie]

Swiss neutrallity stripes!

[Glenn Gilbertson]

A beautiful model - & I like the cockpit cover lateral thinking!

[NARSES2]

Nice one Pyro